2026 World Cup - Group I: Senegal preview, squad and fixtures

16.06.26 FT World Cup

France

3

:

Senegal

1

Senegal will compete in the 2026 World Cup for the third consecutive time and the fourth in its history. Quarter-finalists in their debut appearance in 2002, the Lions of Teranga are once again aiming to make their mark in this historic edition featuring 48 teams.

World Cup history

Senegal made a sensational entrance onto the World Cup stage during their first appearance in South Korea and Japan in 2002. The Lions of Teranga pulled off a major upset by defeating reigning champions France in the opening match, thanks to a goal from Papa Bouba Diop.

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They reached the quarter-finals that year. In their most recent campaign in Qatar 2022, they advanced to the round of 16.

Qualification journey

Senegal topped their qualifying group with seven wins and three draws. The decisive victory away against DR Congo (2-3) secured them first place.

Appearances

3 (2002, 2018, 2022)

World Cup record

12 matches: 5 wins, 3 draws, 4 losses, 16 goals scored / 17 conceded

Senegal squad

Goalkeepers: Édouard Mendy (Al-Ahli, KSA), Mory Diaw (Le Havre), Yévhann Diouf (Nice)

Defenders: Kalidou Koulibaly (Al-Hilal, KSA), Moussa Niakhaté (Lyon), Krépin Diatta (Monaco), Antoine Mendy (Nice), Moustapha Mbow (Paris FC), Abdoulaye Seck (Maccabi Haifa, ISR), Mamadou Sarr (Chelsea, ENG), Ismail Jakobs (Galatasaray, TUR), El Hadji Malick Diouf (West Ham, ENG), Ilay Camara (Anderlecht, BEL)

Midfielders: Idrissa Gana Gueye (Everton, ENG), Pape Gueye (Villarreal, ESP), Lamine Camara (Monaco), Habib Diarra (Sunderland, ENG), Pathé Ciss (Rayo Vallecano, ESP), Pape Matar Sarr (Tottenham, ENG), Bara Sapoko Ndiaye (Bayern Munich, GER)

Forwards: Iliman Ndiaye (Everton, ENG), Ismaïla Sarr (Crystal Palace, ENG), Sadio Mané (Al-Nassr, KSA), Nicolas Jackson (Bayern Munich, GER), Ibrahim Mbaye (PSG), Bamba Dieng (Lorient), Assane Diao (Como, ITA), Chérif Ndiaye (Samsunspor, TUR)

Senegal's Group I fixtures

Tuesday, June 16, 2026

France - Senegal

7:00 pm | New York New Jersey Stadium

Monday, June 22, 2026

Norway - Senegal

12:00 am | New York New Jersey Stadium

Friday, June 26, 2026

Senegal - Iraq

7:00 pm | Toronto Stadium

Imed Ben Amara |

Editorar, fr

Imed Ben Amara - bilingual sports writer and web editor with experience in football content creation. Since 2021, he has contributed to Foot Africa, providing news coverage and analysis.

Related teams and leagues

France

Senegal

World Cup