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France vs Senegal World Cup Tips, Prediction & Live Stream - Can Senegal repeat 2002 heroics?
France begin their World Cup 2026 journey with a high-profile clash against Senegal, evoking memories of Senegal's shocking 2002 win. Both teams feature star-studded squads, with France boasting an elite attack spearheaded by Mbappé, while Senegal rely on experienced players like Sadio Mane and an electric front line. The key recommendation is to back Senegal with a +2 handicap and expect both teams to score, as neither defense has been watertight recently. This Group I fixture promises to be an exciting encounter, likely to produce goals on both sides.
- France vs Senegal predictions for Tuesday's World Cup Group I game
- Rematch of historic 2002 showdown, when Senegal upset France 1-0
- Both teams backed to score, with Senegal covering a +2 handicap
- The game is scheduled for kick off at 5.00am AEST on Wednesday June 17
France vs Senegal World Cup Tips, Prediction & Live Stream
France get their World Cup 2026 bid underway with a tough Group I clash against African heavyweights Senegal at MetLife Stadium on Tuesday.
Who could forget the opening game of the 2002 World Cup, where Senegal stunned then-defending champions France 1-0, going on to reach the quarter-finals on their tournament debut. Senegal have since established themselves as one of the premier nations from Africa, with the likes of Sadio Mane, Nicolas Jackson, Ismaila Sarr and Kalidou Koulibaly leading the way.
France meanwhile are deservedly one of the competition favourites - they took home their second World Cup in 2018 and were runners-up to Argentina four years ago in Qatar, with star striker Kylian Mbappe four goals away from equalling Miroslav Klose's all-time World Cup record of 16. The French attack is simply ridiculous, with the likes of Michael Olise, Ousmane Dembele, Desire Doue and Rayan Cherki all supporting Mbappe in the final third.
This could be one of the best matches of the group stage and I think Senegal can play their part. Asking the Lions of Teranga to repeat their 2002 upset might be a bit too much, but I like them to cover a +2 handicap as the best bet. France do have history of starting major tournaments slowly over the last couple of decades and although it was a friendly, they did lose a warm-up game to Ivory Coast.
BTTS - Yes also appeals as France haven't kept a clean sheet in a while and Senegal's attack is electric. Crystal Palace star Ismaila Sarr is coming off a big Conference League trophy at clubland and looks a good value pick to find the back of the net.
France vs Senegal Stats & Trends
- France haven't kept a clean sheet in their last five games
- France have seen BTTS land in their last five games
- Senegal have scored in 11 of their last 12 games
- Senegal have covered a +2 handicap in 49 of their last 50 games
- France lost a warm-up game 2-1 vs Ivory Coast
- Ismaila Sarr scored three goals for Senegal in World Cup qualifying & had nine for Palace this season
France vs Senegal Head To Head
These two nations have only met once before, with Senegal coming away with that aforementioned 1-0 victory in the 2002 World Cup opener. France were subsequently bundled out in the group stage as defending champions.
France Form Analysis
France have been one of the standout nations in world football over the last decade or so, winning the 2018 World Cup and finishing runner-up to Argentina in that dramatic final four years ago in Qatar.
Didier Deschamps is the only man on earth to have won the World Cup as both player and manager and Les Bleus will be hoping to send him off as a winner again, with Zinedine Zidane to take over after this tournament.
All up, France have won nine of their last 11 games, but they did slip up 2-1 against the Ivory Coast in a warm-up game before responding with a 3-1 victory over Northern Ireland.
France Team News
So many chefs in the French attacking kitchen for this World Cup, of course led by Mbappe, with the likes of Dembele and Olise set to join him up front.
France Squad
William Saliba and Jules Kounde appear to have shrugged off injury concerns and should be good to take their place here, along with goalkeeper Mike Maignan.
France Squad
| Pos. | Player | Age | Caps | Goals | Club |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| GK | Brice Samba | 32 | 4 | 0 | Rennes |
| GK | Mike Maignan | 30 | 40 | 0 | Milan |
| GK | Robin Risser | 21 | 0 | 0 | Lens |
| DF | Malo Gusto | 23 | 11 | 0 | Chelsea |
| DF | Lucas Digne | 32 | 58 | 0 | Aston Villa |
| DF | Dayot Upamecano | 27 | 38 | 2 | Bayern Munich |
| DF | Jules Koundé | 27 | 48 | 0 | Barcelona |
| DF | Ibrahima Konaté | 27 | 28 | 0 | Liverpool |
| DF | William Saliba | 25 | 32 | 0 | Arsenal |
| DF | Théo Hernandez | 28 | 44 | 2 | Al-Hilal |
| DF | Lucas Hernandez | 30 | 42 | 0 | Paris Saint-Germain |
| DF | Maxence Lacroix | 26 | 4 | 0 | Crystal Palace |
| MF | Manu Koné | 25 | 14 | 0 | Roma |
| MF | Aurélien Tchouaméni | 26 | 46 | 3 | Real Madrid |
| MF | N'Golo Kanté | 35 | 69 | 2 | Fenerbahçe |
| MF | Adrien Rabiot | 31 | 59 | 7 | Milan |
| MF | Warren Zaïre-Emery | 20 | 11 | 1 | Paris Saint-Germain |
| MF | Rayan Cherki | 22 | 7 | 2 | Manchester City |
| MF | Maghnes Akliouche | 24 | 9 | 1 | Monaco |
| FW | Ousmane Dembélé | 29 | 59 | 7 | Paris Saint-Germain |
| FW | Marcus Thuram | 28 | 34 | 3 | Inter Milan |
| FW | Kylian Mbappé (c) | 27 | 98 | 56 | Real Madrid |
| FW | Michael Olise | 24 | 17 | 7 | Bayern Munich |
| FW | Bradley Barcola | 23 | 20 | 3 | Paris Saint-Germain |
| FW | Désiré Doué | 21 | 7 | 2 | Paris Saint-Germain |
| FW | Jean-Philippe Mateta | 28 | 4 | 2 | Crystal Palace |
Senegal Form Analysis
Senegal went unbeaten during their World Cup qualifying campaign and backed it up with a run to the final of the Africa Cup of Nations at the start of the year.
That tournament ended in controversy after Senegal were stripped of the trophy after walking off in protest towards the end of the game against host nation Morocco, but nevertheless, the Lions of Teranga proved their worth as arguably the best team on the continent.
Into their third World Cup in a row, Senegal didn't have the best preparation, losing 3-2 to USA before a 0-0 stalemate with Saudi Arabia.
Senegal Team News
All-time leading scorer Sadio Mane (55) is set to lead the line in a fearsome attack that also boasts Nicolas Jackson and Ismaila Sarr.
Assane Diao, Cherif Ndiaye and Everton veteran Idrissa Gueye all missed training sessions over the last week, but should be fit if selected here.
Senegal Squad
| Pos. | Player | Age | Caps | Goals | Club |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| GK | Yehvann Diouf | 26 | 2 | 0 | Nice |
| GK | Édouard Mendy | 34 | 57 | 0 | Al-Ahli |
| GK | Mory Diaw | 32 | 5 | 0 | Le Havre |
| DF | Mamadou Sarr | 20 | 8 | 0 | Chelsea |
| DF | Kalidou Koulibaly | 34 | 103 | 2 | Al-Hilal |
| DF | Abdoulaye Seck | 34 | 22 | 4 | Maccabi Haifa |
| DF | Ismail Jakobs | 26 | 30 | 0 | Galatasaray |
| DF | Krépin Diatta | 27 | 61 | 2 | Monaco |
| DF | Moussa Niakhaté | 30 | 31 | 0 | Lyon |
| DF | Antoine Mendy | 22 | 7 | 0 | Nice |
| DF | El Hadji Malick Diouf | 21 | 20 | 1 | West Ham United |
| MF | Idrissa Gueye | 36 | 131 | 7 | Everton |
| MF | Pathé Ciss | 32 | 30 | 0 | Rayo Vallecano |
| MF | Lamine Camara | 22 | 33 | 5 | Monaco |
| MF | Pape Matar Sarr | 23 | 40 | 4 | Tottenham Hotspur |
| MF | Habib Diarra | 22 | 21 | 4 | Sunderland |
| MF | Bara Sapoko Ndiaye | 18 | 1 | 0 | Bayern Munich |
| MF | Pape Gueye | 27 | 41 | 5 | Villarreal |
| FW | Assane Diao | 20 | 5 | 0 | Como |
| FW | Bamba Dieng | 26 | 23 | 2 | Lorient |
| FW | Sadio Mané | 34 | 128 | 55 | Al-Nassr |
| FW | Nicolas Jackson | 24 | 33 | 8 | Bayern Munich |
| FW | Cherif Ndiaye | 30 | 19 | 4 | Samsunspor |
| FW | Iliman Ndiaye | 26 | 40 | 4 | Everton |
| FW | Ismaïla Sarr | 28 | 83 | 19 | Crystal Palace |
| FW | Ibrahim Mbaye | 18 | 11 | 3 | Paris Saint-Germain |
France vs Senegal Live Stream
Watch and bet on France vs Senegal live football from the World Cup.
You can watch and bet on the match live at bet365 > Soccer > World Cup 2026 with the action available to stream on desktop and mobile.
Geo-restrictions apply, you'll need a funded account or to have placed a bet in the last 24 hours to gain access.
To use the Live Streaming service you will need to be logged in and have a funded account or to have placed a bet in the last 24 hours. Note, under Australian law, Live Streaming on bet365 is exempt from Parts 3 and 4 of the Broadcasting Services (Online Content Service Provider Rules) 2018.
Verdict
Should be a cracking contest - backing Senegal to play their part, with both teams finding the back of the net.
Senegal +2
Handicap
$1.60 - 3 Units
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