France, the World Cup winners in 2018 and runners-up in 2022, will start their quest for a third successive final when they play Senegal in New Jersey tonight.
Didier Deschamps’ side warmed up with mixed results, a home defeat to the Ivory Coast followed by a win over Northern Ireland and they have been placed in a tricky-looking Group I that also includes Norway and Iraq.
Senegal is a difficult start with the Lions of Teranga eager to make up for the disappointment of being controversially stripped of the African Cup of Nations title following their final walk-off against eventual winners Morocco.
Pape Thiaw’s side have strength and skill in abundace, particularly in attack, led by former Liverpool and Bayern Munich star Sadio Mane.
Where to watch France v Senegal: TV channel, live online streams
Kick-off on Tuesday is at 20:00 BST (15:00 ET / 12:00 PT). In the UK, live coverage is on BBC One.
Fans can stream the action on a vast range of devices through the BBC iPlayer app or BBC Sport website.
World Cup 2026: France v Senegal stats
- Since 1998, France have reached the final in four of the seven editions (1998, 2006, 2018, 2022), which is at least twice as often as any other nation during that period
- They are aiming to become only the third team to reach the final in three consecutive editions, after West Germany (1982, 1986, 1990) and Brazil (1994, 1998, 2002)
- The top scorer in a single FIFA World Cup is France’s Just Fontaine, who scored 13 goals in the 1958 edition and found the net in all six of France’s games, including a hat-trick in the opening match against Paraguay and four goals in the third-place play-off against West Germany
- Kylian Mbappe scored more goals (12) and recorded more goal involvements (14) than any other player across the previous two World Cup tournaments, including a hat-trick in the 2022 final
- This will be Didier Deschamps’ fourth World Cup as head coach – only Carlos Alberto Parreira (6) and Bora Milutinovic (5) have more. Deschamps is also one of three individuals to win the tournament as a player and head coach, alongside Mario Zagallo and Franz Beckenbauer
- Senegal have qualified for their fourth World Cup, after 2002 (quarter-final), 2018 (group stage) and 2022 (round of 16)
- This is their third World Cup in a row, which is the joint-longest ongoing streak of appearances for an African team alongside Morocco and Tunisia
- The Lions of Teranga have kept only one clean sheet in their 12 matches at the World Cup, which came during their first-ever match at the tournament, when they beat France in 2002
- All-time Senegal top scorer Sadio Mane missed the 2022 World Cup through injury. His sole participation came in 2018, playing all three group matches and scored once, against Japan
- This will be Pape Thiaw’s first World Cup as a head coach. As a player, he featured in one match – providing the assist for Henri Camara’s golden goal against Sweden in 2002, which sent Senegal into the quarter-finals as part of their best performance at a single edition of the tournament
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