FIFA World Cup 2026: 22 years later, new France eager to heal old scars in meeting with Senegal

Twenty-four years is a long time in football. But when France and Senegal meet at MetLife Stadium on Tuesday, the events of a June evening in Seoul will inevitably return to the conversation.

The match is reminiscent of one of the World Cup’s most famous upsets, when Senegal made its tournament debut by beating defending champions France in 2002.

Since then, France, under Didier Deschamps, has developed into one of the established powerhouses of international football. The country won the World Cup in 2018 and reached the final again four years later, while Senegal has gone from a rising power to one of Africa’s most consistent sides.

Deschamps’ side have gradually evolved from the pragmatism that brought victory in 2018 to a team equally comfortable when it comes to controlling games through possession. The midfield, which is expected to revolve around Aurelien Tchouameni, will look to give the French attackers the freedom to drift between the lines. The challenge against Senegal will be to move the ball quickly, creating a compact defensive shape and creating the one-on-one situations in which the attackers usually thrive.

At the heart of that threat will be Kylian Mbappe, who operates from the left or drifts centrally to use his pace to create problems that few defenders can solve.

But Senegal is unlikely to spend the afternoon just absorbing pressure. The midfield is built around intensity, ball recovery and vertical runs, while the attack thrives on directness rather than extended periods of possession.

That approach could be especially effective against a French backline that could be exposed as Theo Hernandez and Jules Kounde charge forward, creating opportunities for Nicolas Jackson to exploit the remaining space.

The shadows of 2002 will inevitably follow this match. But France will insist this is a different era and a different team. Senegal, meanwhile, will be keen to prove once again that reputations matter very little in football.

Published on June 15, 2026