France vs Senegal World Cup 2026 - Group Stage, Matchday 1 MetLife Stadium | June 16, 2026

This is the opening group stage fixture for both sides at the 2026 World Cup. Neither team is a host nation, so the match is played on fully neutral ground with no crowd or venue advantage to factor in.

TOURNAMENT CONTEXT

Both France and Senegal are making their first competitive appearance of the tournament. A strong start carries obvious value in a group stage format — a win here creates breathing room for the remaining two fixtures, while a defeat immediately adds pressure. Neither side can afford to treat this as a throwaway game.