France vs. Senegal: Star-studded attack faces 2002 ghost in World Cup opener
France launches its 2026 World Cup campaign against Senegal on Tuesday, pitting Kylian Mbappé's star-studded attack against the team that stunned Les Bleus in 2002.
France's star-studded attack
France enters the World Cup with one of the most feared forward lines in the tournament. Kylian Mbappé, fresh from a 42‑goal season at Real Madrid, leads an attack that also includes Ballon d'Or winner Ousmane Dembélé and Bayern Munich's Michael Olise. The 25‑year‑old captain arrives in New York just four goals shy of Miroslav Klose's all‑time World Cup record of 16, having scored 12 times across the last two editions.
I got up this morning and only saw two or three players. There's an hour's drive there and another back, and I have to protect them.
The manager's decision to shield Mbappé from a pre‑match press conference underlined the weight of expectation on his captain. Mbappé's pursuit of Klose's record will be one of the tournament's subplots, with Lionel Messi (13 goals) also in the frame.
- Miroslav Klose
- 16 goals
- Lionel Messi
- 13 goals
- Kylian Mbappé
- 12 goals
Senegal's resilience
Senegal arrives with a physical, well‑organised side built around experienced internationals. Goalkeeper Édouard Mendy, defender Kalidou Koulibaly and forward Sadio Mané form a core that can trouble any opponent. The Lions of Teranga were crowned African champions on the pitch in the last Cup of Nations, though the title was later stripped through an administrative decision.
I know what it means and what consequences it can have for my country if people like them come to power.
Mbappé's political remarks about the French far‑right have added an off‑field layer of scrutiny to his tournament.
The 2002 rematch
Tuesday's meeting reawakens one of the competition's great shocks: Senegal's 1‑0 defeat of defending champions France in the 2002 opener. That result set the tone for a miserable French campaign that ended without a single goal. Both squads have transformed since then, but the memory fuels Senegal's belief.
Group I stakes
The winner at MetLife Stadium will take a significant step towards the knockout stage in Group I, which also includes Iraq and Norway. France, a finalist in three of the last four World Cups, begins as a clear favourite, but Senegal's blend of power and experience means the contest is far from a formality.
How to watch
The match kicks off at 21:00 CEST (15:00 local time in New Jersey) on Tuesday 16 June at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford. In Spain it will be broadcast live on La 1 and streamed on RTVE Play.
