France and Senegal have confirmed their starting line-ups ahead of their big 2026 FIFA World Cup Group I clash. At MetLife Stadium, in a game billed as a rematch of the 2002 opener, France line up in a 4-2-3-1 and Senegal in a 4-3-3.
Didier Deschamps's France field a star-studded attack. Kylian Mbappé leads the line, with Ballon d'Or holder Ousmane Dembélé, candidate Michael Olise and Désiré Doué behind him. The midfield pairs Aurélien Tchouaméni with Adrien Rabiot, while William Saliba and Dayot Upamecano start at centre-back in front of goalkeeper Mike Maignan.
In Pape Thiaw's Senegal, all eyes are on Sadio Mané, who missed 2022 through injury. The experienced star lines up in attack alongside Ismaïla Sarr and Nicolas Jackson. Midfield features a three-man unit built around Idrissa Gueye and Pape Gueye. Captain Kalidou Koulibaly leads the defence, while former Chelsea goalkeeper Édouard Mendy is between the posts. Krépin Diatta and Ismail Jakobs also feature in the back line.
With both teams having navigated qualifying comfortably, this match is crucial to the shape of Group I. In a meeting of two star-laden squads, the opening exchanges may prove decisive.
Starting XIs
France (4-2-3-1): Maignan; Koundé, Saliba, Upamecano, T. Hernández; Tchouaméni, Rabiot; Doué, Dembélé, Olise; Mbappé
Senegal (4-3-3): Mendy; Diatta, Koulibaly, Niakhaté, Diouf; I. Gueye, P. Gueye, Camara; Sarr, Jackson, Mané
Image: aljazeera.com
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