Senegal Looks to Repeat 2002 World Cup Upset of France that Set Off Dancing in Dakar's Streets
- On Tuesday, June 16, 2026, France and Senegal face off in a Group I World Cup match at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey, with kickoff scheduled for 8pm BST.
- The teams last met during the 2002 World Cup, when debutants Senegal stunned defending champions France 1-0 in a historic upset that eliminated the French side in the group stage.
- While many Senegalese fans were denied U.S. visas, the government is distributing 400 tickets per match to locals in Harlem's Little Senegal, fueling excitement for the "Lions of Teranga."
- France coach Didier Deschamps and Senegal coach Pape Thiaw both emphasized the fixture's symbolic nature, while midfielder N'Golo Kanté stated, "We want to go as far as possible in this competition," rejecting revenge narratives.
- Betting models give France a 63.5% chance to win versus Senegal's 14.3%, yet Senegal aims to become the first African team to claim a World Cup title.
63 Articles
63 Articles
Senegal's national team opens its World Cup campaign against France on Tuesday, and the match brings back memories of one of the tournament's biggest sensations.
When Debutant Senegal Shocked the World in 2002
Today, Senegal opens its 2026 FIFA World Cup campaign at the MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey, against two-time winners France. It’s a rematch of the 2002 opener in South Korea, the night Senegal shocked the world. Senegal’s FIFA World Cup debut in 2002 couldn’t have been tougher: a tournament opener against world champions France. France were the heavy favorites; Senegal were the ultimate underdogs, making their first appearance o…
If the Senegalese got there, it's because in a sense everything started in 2002 against France that he finds this Thursday as we recalled the current assistant coach of La Gantoise. ...
France kick off World Cup campaign, with Senegal looking to repeat 2002 upset
Les Bleus will be wary of carrying the favourites tag when they begin their quest for a third World Cup title against Senegal on Tuesday, 24 years after their shock defeat against the Lions of Teranga set off dancing in the streets of Dakar – and precipitated France's calamitous exit in the group stage.
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