World Cup 2026 line-ups, stats and preview, TV channel, dwell on-line stream and prediction
France arrive at World Cup 2026 among the many main contenders to carry the trophy and can be aiming to start their Group I marketing campaign with three factors once they face Senegal in East Rutherford on Tuesday.
Didier Deschamps is overseeing his last main match earlier than stepping down after the World Cup, and the France boss has a possibility so as to add a second world title to the one he gained in 2018.
Whereas France stay filled with elite expertise, Senegal won’t be intimidated. The Lions of Teranga are showing at a 3rd successive World Cup and have developed into one in every of Africa’s most constant worldwide sides.
Their qualification marketing campaign was accomplished unbeaten, and so they have saved 5 clear sheets of their final seven matches.
With Norway and Panama additionally in Group I, each groups know that avoiding defeat within the opener might show essential.
World Cup 2026: France v Senegal crew information
France have been handed a serious increase with William Saliba returning to full coaching after considerations {that a} again problem might threaten his participation within the match.
Jules Kounde has additionally recovered from a minor muscle downside, whereas goalkeeper Mike Maignan’s absence from a current coaching session was solely resulting from load administration and isn’t anticipated to have an effect on his availability.
Kylian Mbappe is about to steer the French assault and will equal Olivier Giroud’s nationwide crew scoring file along with his subsequent worldwide objective.
For Senegal, Sadio Mane is totally match after lacking the 2022 World Cup via damage and is predicted to captain the aspect from a complicated position.
Assane Diao, Cherif Ndiaye and Idrissa Gueye have all been managing minor health considerations in current days, however none are at present anticipated to overlook the Group I opener.
Chelsea striker Nicolas Jackson is tipped to begin regardless of his current crimson card once more
France v Senegal World Cup 2026 predicted line-ups
France beginning XI: Maignan; Kounde, Saliba, Upamecano, T Hernandez; Tchouameni, Rabiot; Olise, Doue, Mbappe; Dembele
Senegal beginning XI: Mendy; Diatta, Koulibaly, Niakhate, Diouf; Camara, P Gueye; Sarr, Diarra, Mane; Jackson
The place to look at France v Senegal: TV channel, dwell on-line streams
Kick-off on Tuesday is at 20:00 BST (15:00 ET / 12:00 PT). Within the UK, dwell protection is on BBC One.
Followers can stream the motion on an unlimited vary of units via the BBC iPlayer app or BBC Sport web site.
World Cup 2026: France v Senegal stats
- Since 1998, France have reached the ultimate in 4 of the seven editions (1998, 2006, 2018, 2022), which is no less than twice as typically as every other nation throughout that interval
- They’re aiming to turn out to be solely the third crew to succeed in the ultimate in three consecutive editions, after West Germany (1982, 1986, 1990) and Brazil (1994, 1998, 2002)
- The highest scorer in a single FIFA World Cup is France’s Simply Fontaine, who scored 13 targets within the 1958 version and located the web in all six of France’s video games, together with a hat-trick within the opening match towards Paraguay and 4 targets within the third-place play-off towards West Germany
- Kylian Mbappe scored extra targets (12) and recorded extra objective involvements (14) than every other participant throughout the earlier two World Cup tournaments, together with a hat-trick within the 2022 last
- This can be Didier Deschamps’ fourth World Cup as head coach – solely Carlos Alberto Parreira (6) and Bora Milutinovic (5) have extra. Deschamps can be one in every of three people to win the match as a participant and head coach, alongside Mario Zagallo and Franz Beckenbauer
- Senegal have certified for his or her fourth World Cup, after 2002 (quarter-final), 2018 (group stage) and 2022 (spherical of 16)
- That is their third World Cup in a row, which is the joint-longest ongoing streak of appearances for an African crew alongside Morocco and Tunisia
- The Lions of Teranga have saved just one clear sheet of their 12 matches on the World Cup, which got here throughout their first-ever match on the match, once they beat France in 2002
- All-time Senegal prime scorer Sadio Mane missed the 2022 World Cup via damage. His sole participation got here in 2018, taking part in all three group matches and scored as soon as, towards Japan
- This can be Pape Thiaw’s first World Cup as a head coach. As a participant, he featured in a single match – offering the help for Henri Camara’s golden objective towards Sweden in 2002, which despatched Senegal into the quarter-finals as a part of their greatest efficiency at a single version of the match
World Cup 2026: France v Senegal prediction
Senegal possess sufficient high quality to hassle virtually any aspect and will create alternatives towards a France defence that has not at all times regarded flawless in current matches.
Nonetheless, the attacking depth out there to Deschamps is phenomenal, and with Mbappe, Dembele, Olise and Doue all able to producing moments of high quality, France ought to have an excessive amount of firepower over the course of 90 minutes and start their World Cup marketing campaign with a win.
Prediction: France 3-1 Senegal
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