Senegal
Group I · FIFA rank 18 · World Cup 2026
Eliminated in the round of 32
Lost 2-3 to Belgium
Senegal are one of the strongest teams in African football, runners-up at the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations and built around a hugely talented squad.
They are out, beaten 3-2 by Belgium after extra time in the round of 32, after leading 2-0.
They were minutes from a famous win, so this was a very tough way to go out.
Senegal's 2026 World Cup matches
See the full Group I standings →Senegal squad and manager
Manager: Pape Thiaw
| 👕 No. | 🧑 Player | 🛡️ Club |
|---|---|---|
| Goalkeepers (3) | ||
| 1 | Yehvann Diouf | Nice |
| 16 | Édouard Mendy | Al-Ahli |
| 23 | Mory Diaw | Le Havre |
| Defenders (8) | ||
| 2 | Mamadou Sarr | Chelsea |
| 3 | Kalidou Koulibaly | Al-Hilal |
| 4 | Abdoulaye Seck | Maccabi Haifa |
| 14 | Ismail Jakobs | Galatasaray |
| 15 | Krépin Diatta | Monaco |
| 19 | Moussa Niakhaté | Lyon |
| 24 | Antoine Mendy | Nice |
| 25 | El Hadji Malick Diouf | West Ham United |
| Midfielders (7) | ||
| 5 | Idrissa Gueye | Everton |
| 6 | Pathé Ciss | Rayo Vallecano |
| 8 | Lamine Camara | Monaco |
| 17 | Pape Matar Sarr | Tottenham Hotspur |
| 21 | Habib Diarra | Sunderland |
| 22 | Bara Sapoko Ndiaye | Bayern Munich |
| 26 | Pape Gueye | Villarreal |
| Forwards (8) | ||
| 7 | Assane Diao | Como |
| 9 | Bamba Dieng | Lorient |
| 10 | Sadio Mané | Al-Nassr |
| 11 | Nicolas Jackson | Bayern Munich |
| 12 | Cherif Ndiaye | Samsunspor |
| 13 | Iliman Ndiaye | Everton |
| 18 | Ismaïla Sarr | Crystal Palace |
| 20 | Ibrahim Mbaye | Paris Saint-Germain |
Senegal at the World Cup
- FIFA ranking
- #18
- World Cup appearance
- 4th
- Best finish
- Quarter-finals (2002)
- Confederation
- CAF
- Group
- Group I
How did Senegal lose after leading Belgium 2-0?
Senegal are out, and it was about as painful as an exit can get.
They played brilliantly and led Belgium 2-0 with only 40 minutes left in the round of 32.
Their midfielder Habib Diarra scored in the 24th minute, and Ismaila Sarr made it 2-0 in the 51st minute.
At that point they were minutes from one of the biggest wins in their history.
But Belgium scored 3 late goals to win it 3-2 after extra time.
Romelu Lukaku and Youri Tielemans scored to make it 2-2, and Tielemans won it with a penalty right at the very end.
To lose from 2-0 up, so close to the finish, is one of the cruelest ways to go out of a World Cup.
Their leader is Sadio Mane, Senegal's all-time top scorer, and Nicolas Jackson and captain Kalidou Koulibaly are also top-class players.
Coach Pape Thiaw took them through qualifying unbeaten and out of a tough group, so there is a lot to be proud of.
The mood is heartbreak, because this was a very tough way to go out after playing so well.
Senegal's recent results
- D0-0Saudi ArabiaJune 9, 2026Friendly
- L2-3at United StatesMay 31, 2026Friendly
Last 12 months before the tournament. Source: international match records.
Common questions
Which group were Senegal in at the 2026 World Cup?
Senegal were in Group I with France, Iraq and Norway. They finished 3rd in the group.
Who is Senegal's manager?
Senegal are managed by Pape Thiaw.
What is Senegal's best World Cup result?
Senegal's best World Cup result is Quarter-finals in 2002.
Are Senegal still in the 2026 World Cup?
No, Senegal were knocked out in the round of 32 by Belgium.
What is Senegal's FIFA ranking?
Senegal are ranked 18 in the FIFA world rankings.