FIFA World Cup 2026, France vs Senegal Football Live Score: Mbappe in focus as FRA lock horns with SEN at Metlife

FIFA World Cup 2026, France vs Senegal Football Live Score Updates: Double World Cup champions France will be wary of their history against Senegal in opening matches when the two sides lock horns in the first match of Group I at the Metlife Stadium.

FIFA World Cup 2026 Today Match Live Score Updates: Double World Cup champions France will be wary of their history against Senegal in opening matches when the two sides lock horns in the first match of Group I at the Metlife Stadium in New York/New Jersey. The last time these two sides had met in the opening match in a World Cup was in 2002 when France, the then defending champions, shockingly lost to the newbies 1-0. The side could not recover after that and ended up getting eliminated from the Group Stage without a single win.

Since then, France have been finalists in the last two editions of the World Cup, even winning the whole thing again in 2018. They almost gave Argentina a scare in 2022 with a 3-3 draw after Extra Time but eventually lost in penalties. With Kylian Mbappe, arguably the best player in the world outside the rarefied air of Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo, in their squad and a solid midfield and defence line, France will look to make a positive start.

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For Senegal, this year started with the drama surrounding the AFCON final when the team were ordered off the pitch by coach Pape Thiaw after Morocco were given a penalty. Sadio Manee would bring them back to the pitch but the match was delayed by 16 mins and even though Brahim Diaz missed his spot kick and Pape Gueye scored in Extra Time, Senegal were stripped of the title. With the wounds still fresh, Senegal poses a pretty seismic challenge to France.

FOLLOW FRANCE VS SENEGAL LIVE SCORE AND UPDATES FROM 2026 FIFA WORLD CUP BELOW.

Live Updates
Jun 16, 2026 10:55 PM IST
FRA vs SEN FIFA World Cup: Senegal's WC history

1930: Did not enter
1934: Did not enter
1938: Did not enter
1950: Did not enter
1954: Did not enter
1958: Did not enter
1962: Did not enter
1966: Withdrew
1970: Did not qualify
1974: Did not qualify
1978: Did not qualify
1982: Did not qualify
1986: Did not qualify
1990: Withdrew
1994: Did not qualify
1998: Did not qualify
2002: Quarterfinals
2006: Did not qualify
2010: Did not qualify
2014: Did not qualify
2018: Group Stage
2022: Round of 16

Jun 16, 2026 10:44 PM IST
France vs Senegal World Cup LIVE: France World Cup history

1930: Group Stage
1934: Round of 16
1938: Quarterfinals
1950: Withdrew
1954: Group Stage
1958: Third Place
1962: Did not qualify
1966: Group Stage
1970: Did not qualify
1974: Did not qualify
1978: Group Stage
1982: Fourth place
1986: Third place
1990: Did not qualify
1994: Did not qualify
1998: CHAMPIONS
2002: Group Stage
2006: Runners-up
2010: Group Stage
2014: Quarterfinals
2018: CHAMPIONS
2022: Runners-up

Jun 16, 2026 10:33 PM IST
FRA vs SEN FIFA World Cup: Group I matches

June 17: France vs Senegal

June 17: Iraq vs Norway

June 23: France vs Iraq

June 23: Norway vs Senegal

June 27: Norway vs France

June 27: Senegal vs Iraq

Jun 16, 2026 10:25 PM IST
France vs Senegal World Cup LIVE: Tournament so far

June 12: Mexico 2-0 South Africa

June 12: South Korea 2-1 Czechia

June 13: Canada 1-1 Bosnia and Herzegovina

June 13: USA 4-1 Paraguay

June 14: Qatar 1-1 Switzerland

June 14: Brazil 1-1 Morocco

June 14: Haiti 0-1 Scotland

June 14: Australia 2-0 Turkey

June 14: Germany 7-1 Curacao

June 15: Netherlands 2-2 Japan

June 15: Ivory Coast 1-0 Ecuador

June 15: Sweden 5-1 Tunisia

June 15: Spain 0-0 Cape Verde

June 16: Belgium 1-1 Egypt

June 16: Saudi Arabia 1-1 Uruguay

June 16: Iran 2-2 New Zealand

Jun 16, 2026 10:15 PM IST
FRA vs SEN FIFA World Cup: Senegal and the AFCON row

Senegal's start to 2026 have been eventful with the African team getting stripped off their AFCON title after winning the final against Morocco 1-0. But there's more to that. With just minutes to play in regulation time, the referee gave Morocco a penalty. This resulted in Senegal coach Pape Thiaw marshalling the team into the dressing room in protest. Sadio Mane would eventually bring them back to the pitch but the match was delayed by 16 mins and even though Brahim Diaz missed his spot kick and Pape Gueye scored in Extra Time, Senegal were not allowed to keep the title. They, however, still parade around with the trophy.

Jun 16, 2026 10:08 PM IST
France vs Senegal World Cup LIVE: Mbappe in focus

For France, all eyes will be trained on Kylian Mbappe who since his transfer to Real Madrid hasn't really fulfilled his potential with the Los Blancos going back to back seasons without winning the league and the Champions League. Meanwhile, Mbappe's previous team PSG have won back to back leagues and Champions Leagues since he departed the French capital. Even though Mbappe has decent individual numbers, his inability to track back or keep the pressure on oppositions have been one of the main reasons Real have floundered. Can he save his season by winning the biggest prize in football? We'll find out on July 19.

Jun 16, 2026 10:02 PM IST
FRA vs SEN FIFA World Cup: Head to head

Matches played: 1

France wins: 0

Senegal wins: 1

Jun 16, 2026 10:00 PM IST
France vs Senegal World Cup LIVE: Check out the groups

Group A: Mexico, South Africa, Republic of Korea, Czechia
Group B: Canada, Switzerland, Qatar, Bosnia and Herzegovina
Group C: Brazil, Morocco, Scotland, Haiti
Group D: USA, Paraguay, Australia, Turkey
Group E: Germany, Ecuador, Ivory Coast, Curaçao
Group F: Netherlands, Japan, Sweden, Tunisia
Group G: Belgium, Egypt, Iran, New Zealand
Group H: Spain, Uruguay, Saudi Arabia, Cape Verde
Group I: France, Senegal, Norway, Iraq
Group J: Argentina, Austria, Algeria, Jordan
Group K: Portugal, Colombia, DR Congo, Uzbekistan
Group L: England, Croatia, Ghana, Panama

Jun 16, 2026 09:57 PM IST
FRA vs SEN FIFA World Cup: Form Guide

France: WWWWLW

Senegal: WWWWLW

Jun 16, 2026 09:50 PM IST
France vs Senegal World Cup LIVE: Predicted lineups

France: Maignan; Kounde, Saliba, Upamecano, T. Hernandez; Tchouameni, Rabiot; Olise, Doue, Mbappe; Dembele

Senegal: Mendy; Diatta, Koulibaly, Niakhate, Diouf; Camara, P. Gueye; Sarr, Diarra, Mane; Jackson

Jun 16, 2026 09:34 PM IST
FRA vs SEN FIFA World Cup: Hello and welcome

2-time world champions France will be kicking off their World Cup campaign on late Tuesday night. Standing in front of them are old foes Senegal-- the team who had defeated then defending champs France 1-0 in the opening match of the 2002 World Cup, triggering a collapse that saw the Les Blues getting eliminated from that competition from the group stage without a single win to their name. Will history repeat itself tonight or will France rewrite their destiny at the Metlife Stadium? We'll find out soon enough.

2022-2026: Will the real France, full of attacking talent, step up on big stage

Frightfully abundant in attacking talent during a period that has the makings of a dynasty but is peppered with the inability to win a slew of major trophies, France could have been the Brazil of 1958-70.

The South American giants carved out a legacy falling only once, to the Italians, in a 12-year cycle of dominance built by an assembly line of domestic talent lining up behind the mercurial Pele. As France head coach Didier Deschamps’ prepares for his swansong, his charges have to show they know how to get the job done.

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