Senegal

Senegal enter World Cup 2026 in Group I, where the early tests are France, Norway, and Iraq. Senegal have never won the World Cup, but their quarterfinal run in 2002 remains iconic, and they returned to the knockout rounds in 2022 with another disciplined, confident side. The current squad is shaped around Sadio Mane, Kalidou Koulibaly, and Ismaila Sarr, a core that gives the team recognizable quality in the moments that usually decide group-stage matches: set pieces, transition attacks, and pressure around the box.

For this tournament, the assignment is both tactical and psychological: start quickly, protect the middle of the pitch, and make the group feel uncomfortable before the knockout picture forms. This is a demanding group, but Senegal have experience and speed in the right areas. A strong defensive base could make them France's toughest challenger. If Senegal can turn its best individual stretches into a full 90-minute platform, the campaign has room to grow beyond a simple participation story.