France begins its 2026 World Cup campaign on June 16, 2026, against Senegal at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey. The match kicks off at 21:00 CET (15:00 local time). This is a rematch of the 2002 World Cup opener, where Senegal defeated France 1-0.
France, the defending champions from 2018, are seeking a third star. Senegal, led by coach Aliou Cissé, who played in the 2002 match, aims to repeat history. The match is part of Group A, which also includes the Netherlands and Ecuador.
Key players for France include Kylian Mbappé and Antoine Griezmann, while Senegal relies on Sadio Mané and Kalidou Koulibaly. Both teams are at full strength, with no major injury concerns reported.
The 2026 World Cup is the first to feature 48 teams, with matches across the United States, Canada, and Mexico. France's group stage continues against the Netherlands on June 21 and Ecuador on June 26.
