France Aims to Avoid 2002 Ghost in World Cup 2026 Debut Against Senegal

France kicks off its World Cup 2026 campaign on Tuesday against Senegal in New Jersey, a match shadowed by the ghost of one of the tournament's greatest upsets: Senegal's victory over the then-reigning champions France in the opening game of the 2002 Korea-Japan World Cup.

Twenty-four years ago, a French squad boasting stars like Zinedine Zidane, Thierry Henry, and David Trezeguet was unexpectedly defeated by Senegal. That loss was a significant factor in France's group-stage elimination. Today, France enters the match as favorites, aiming to banish the memory of 2002 with a squad featuring Kylian Mbappé, Michael Olise, and Ousmane Dembélé. Fresh off losing the Qatar 2022 final to Argentina, France is hungry for a third World Cup title and is determined to avoid an early exit.

The projected French lineup includes Maignan; Koundé, Upamecano, Saliba, Theo Hernández; Tchouaméni, Rabiot; Olise, Dembélé, Doué, and Mbappé. The team is focused on avoiding the kind of misstep that plagued them in 2002 and in their recent final loss.

Senegal, meanwhile, approaches the tournament with ambition, fueled by the memory of their historic 2002 win. The African nation has seen its football develop significantly, aiming to become a continental powerhouse. Although Senegal won the Africa Cup of Nations on the field this year, the Confederation of African Football controversially awarded the title to Morocco. This perceived injustice adds a layer of motivation for Senegal as they seek to make their mark on the World Cup stage. Their group also includes Norway and Erling Haaland, making every point crucial.

Senegal's expected formation is Mendy; Koulibaly, Niakhaté, Diallo; Sabaly, Matar Sarr, Idrissa Gueye, Jakobs; Ismaila Sarr, Nicolas Jackson, and Sadio Mané. The match will be officiated by Australian referee Alireza Faghani.