Having waited patiently, the time has finally arrived for France and Senegal to get their World Cup 2026 campaigns underway with a fascinating meeting in New Jersey.Les Bleus will be targeting a third consecutive final place having won the tournament in 2018 and lost arguably the greatest final of all time to Argentina in Qatar four years ago.But Senegal - who were controversially stripped of their Afcon title after farcical scenes in the final against Morocco - will prove tough opposition in a stacked Group I, which also contains Erling Haaland-led Norway.Both sides have had a mixed build-up to the tournament, with Senegal beating Peru and Gambia before losing to co-hosts USA and drawing with Saudi Arabia, while Didier Deschamps’ men lost 2-1 to the Ivory Coast before seeing off Northern Ireland 3-1.Kick-off in New Jersey is 3pm ET (8pm BST) and you can follow every meaningful kick right here.France squadGoalkeepers: Mike Maignan (AC Milan), Robin Risser (Lens), Brice Samba (Rennes).Defenders: Lucas Digne (Aston Villa), Malo Gusto (Chelsea), Lucas Hernandez (Paris Saint-Germain), Theo Hernandez (Al Hilal), Ibrahima Konate (Liverpool), Maxence Lacroix (Crystal Palace), Jules Kounde (Barcelona), William Saliba (Arsenal), Dayot Upamenaco (Bayern Munich).Midfielders: N'Golo Kante (Fenerbahce), Manu Kone (Roma), Adrien Rabiot (AC Milan), Aurelien Tchouameni (Real Madrid), Warren Zaire-Emery (Paris Saint-Germain)Forwards: Maghnes Akliouche (Monaco), Bradley Barcola (Paris Saint-Germain), Rayan Cherki (Manchester City), Ousmane Dembele (Paris Saint-Germain), Desire Doue (Paris Saint-Germain), Michael Olise (Bayern Munich), Kylian Mbappe (Real Madrid), Jean-Phillipe Mateta (Crystal Palace), Marcus Thuram (Inter Milan)Alan Smith16 June 2026 17:44Senegal tournament previewThe chaos of Rabat is still unresolved but Senegal’s reputation on the pitch remains. A second Africa Cup of Nations title in four years should have crowned Senegal as one of the finest sides the continent has produced but the decision to overturn the result of the final and name Morocco champions ensures there is unfinished business for the Lions of Teranga.An experienced, settled squad led by the veterans Sadio Mane, Kalidou Koulibaly and Idrissa Gana Gueye is complemented by the many fresh talents playing at the highest levels of the European game, such as Everton’s Iliman Ndiaye, Crystal Palace’s Ismaila Sarr and Sunderland’s Habib Diarra. The Premier League connection is instructive: last year, Senegal became the first African team to beat England when they won 3-1 at the City Ground in Nottingham, and that famous result should give Pape Thiaw’s side plenty of confidence ahead of decisive clashes against European nations in France and Norway.Thiaw was handed a five-game ban for leading his Senegal team off the pitch during the carnage of the Africa Cup of Nations final, although that punishment will not apply to World Cup games. Thiaw’s players kept their Afcon winner’s medals and they will enter the tournament with heads held high, believing they are African champions, and hoping for fewer obstacles to overcome.Jamie Braidwood16 June 2026 17:36France tournament previewWhat’s French for firepower? Because oh la la there’s a lot of it in this Les Bleus squad. Before we get carried away, though, let’s remember that France managed just four goals at Euro 2024 and only one of them came from open play, in the 2-1 semi-final defeat to champions Spain. Kylian Mbappe was derailed by a broken nose, and the tactics of Didier Deschamps were considered to be overly cautious and restrictive.This will be the last time Deschamps leads France at a tournament, after overseeing their 2018 World Cup victory and run to the final in Qatar, so how does he get the balance right this time? There has been a French evolution since Euro 2024, mainly due to the success of Paris Saint-Germain. The development of Osmanne Dembele into a Ballon d’Or winner brings another dimension. Then there’s Desire Doue, Michael Olise, Rayan Cherki… tricks, dribbling, style. Get it right and France could be irresistible.Deschamps, though, will be without the retired Antoine Griezmann, a key figure for his selfless work at the last World Cup. N’Golo Kante, at 35, will be tasked with holding the midfield together along with Aurelien Tchouameni, with his Real Madrid team-mate Eduardo Camavinga a notable omission that may leave France a little light in the middle. If Deschamps does not get his formula right it could be a decision that comes back to haunt him.Jamie Braidwood16 June 2026 17:28Initial concerns over William Saliba, who aggravated a back injury during Arsenal’s Champions League final defeat, have been allayed as the centre-back returned to full training before this week’s opener.Jules Kounde picked up a muscle issue against Northern Ireland but has also recovered in time to feature.Senegal may be without Assane Diao, who missed training last week with a contusion, while Cherif Ndiaye is also a doubt.Alan Smith16 June 2026 17:20How to watchViewers in the UK can watch the game live on BBC One and BBC iPlayer, with coverage beginning at 7.30pm BST.Alan Smith16 June 2026 17:10WelcomeHello and welcome to live coverage of France vs Senegal in Group I, where the 2022 beaten finalists will look to lay down a marker for a campaign that they again hope will go the distance.Didier Deschamps’ side are luxuriously talented but criticism of the head coach’s approach is never too far away despite reached the previous two finals.Senegal, meanwhile, will be tricky opponents and they are still smarting from what they consider the injustice of being stripped of the Afcon title.Kick-off in New Jersey is 3pm local time, 8pm BST.Alan Smith16 June 2026 16:58