Paris (France) (AFP) – Winners in 2018 and runners-up in 2022, France arrive at this World Cup as one of the leading contenders, but the planet's top-ranked team face stiff tests against Senegal and Norway in Group I, which also features outsiders Iraq.
Issued on: 29/05/2026 - 08:16
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Les Bleus have won the World Cup twice and lost two further finals on penalties in the last seven editions, including last time in Qatar when they were beaten by Argentina in a shoot-out after Kylian Mbappe scored a hat-trick in an epic contest.France now go into their last tournament under long-serving coach Didier Deschamps, who has been in charge since 2012 and is expected to be replaced by Zinedine Zidane.Deschamps is wary of a tough group and France have stumbled as favourites before -- they arrived at the 2002 World Cup as holders and were eliminated in the group stage without scoring a goal.Back then they lost their opening game to Senegal in Seoul, and they will hope history doesn't repeat itself when they play the Lions of Teranga in their first fixture this time, at the MetLife Stadium in New Jersey on June 16."It is one of the most difficult groups, if not the hardest," said Deschamps."We have a fraternal relationship with Senegal because there are a lot of dual national players who have played for French clubs and know the French players. And Norway are one of the very good European teams."France have a fearsome attack that is the envy of world football, led by captain Mbappe -- top scorer in La Liga this season with Real Madrid -- and reigning Ballon d'Or Ousmane Dembele, but also featuring the likes of Michael Olise and Rayan Cherki.Senegal threat, Norway backSenegal's 2002 win over France sparked a best-ever run for them to the quarter-finals, and they have ambitions of another deep foray.Their build-up has been overshadowed by the fall-out from January's Africa Cup of Nations final, when they beat Morocco 1-0 after extra time.But the chaos in that game, when Senegal players walked off the pitch in protest at a late penalty awarded to the hosts, led to Pape Thiaw's team later being stripped of their title by the Confederation of African Football. They have appealed to the Court of Arbitration for Sport.Senegal's squad is still led by Sadio Mane, who is now 34 and missed the last World Cup with injury.
