France vs Senegal: The 2002 Rematch Opens Group I in New York

Predictions

The experts and we all land in the same place: France win, but Senegal make them work for it.

• Our prediction: France win 2-1, with Senegal landing a goal.
• Opta supercomputer: France are big favorites, around a 66% chance to win (Senegal about 15%).
• CBS Sports (Martin Green): an entertaining, high-scoring game with France on top.
• FOX Sports: France to win, expecting a fast start and an early goal.

A rematch with 24 years of history

Some opening games are just an opening game.

This one carries a memory that French fans have never quite shaken off.

Back in 2002, Senegal beat France 1-0 in the opening game of the World Cup.

France were the defending champions that day, and it remains one of the biggest shocks the tournament has ever seen.

So when these two meet again to open Group I, the past is sitting right there in the room.

France: the heavyweight with a point to prove

France arrive as one of the best teams on the planet.

They are ranked 3rd in the world, they have won the World Cup twice (1998 and 2018), and they were runners-up in 2022.

This is also a farewell tournament for coach Didier Deschamps, who is leaving after 2026, so the team has extra reason to send him off in style.

The warm-up form backs up the hype.

They beat Brazil 2-1, Colombia 3-1, Northern Ireland 3-1 and Azerbaijan 3-1, with only a 2-1 loss to Ivory Coast to spoil the run.

The names tell you everything: captain Kylian Mbappe, Ousmane Dembele, Marcus Thuram, Michael Olise and midfielder Aurelien Tchouameni.

On paper, this should be comfortable, but France of all teams know that a big favorite can still trip up against a dangerous underdog.

Senegal: the underdog with nothing to lose

Senegal will not be scared of the badge across the field.

They are ranked 17th, they reached the quarter-finals back in 2002, and they made the round of 16 in 2022.

They also reached the final of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations, so this is a side that knows how to handle big nights.

Their warm-up results were quieter, a 0-0 draw with Saudi Arabia and a 3-2 loss to the United States.

Under coach Pape Thiaw, the danger man is Sadio Mane, Senegal's all-time top scorer, backed by Idrissa Gueye, young talent Lamine Camara and captain Kalidou Koulibaly at the back.

Favorites get all the pressure, and an underdog with this much quality is exactly the kind of team that can punish it.

Why this one feels personal

There is an extra layer of emotion here that goes beyond the scoreboard.

Many Senegal players were born or raised in France, which ties the two countries closely together.

So for a lot of players and fans, this is not just a game against a rival, it is a game against a second home.

That history of family, friendship and pride is part of what makes France against Senegal special.

What is at stake?

Group I also holds Iraq and Norway, so this is not a free pass for anyone.

For France, dropping points to Senegal again on day one would bring all those 2002 memories flooding back.

They want a clean, convincing win to set the tone for their whole tournament.

For Senegal, beating France twice in a lifetime would be a story their football would tell forever.

Where and when can you watch?

The game is on Tuesday June 16 2026 at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, near New York.

Kickoff is 15:00 (3:00 PM) New York time.

It is a glamour venue too, because the same stadium will host the World Cup final on July 19.

Check your local World Cup broadcaster for the channel where you live.