France vs Senegal – Prediction, Where to Watch, Kick-off Time and Lineups 16-06

• France, one of the leading contenders for the title, begins their World Cup 2026 journey aiming to make a strong statement from the outset after an impressive run of results.
• Senegal comes into the tournament with solid form, having achieved a series of positive outcomes in their recent fixtures, and will be eager to challenge the favourites in this opening match.
• History adds a fascinating twist to this encounter, as in their only previous meeting, Senegal secured a memorable victory over the French side.

• France arrives at the World Cup in strong form, having won 14 of their last 21 international games.
• They have displayed recent dominance, securing eight victories in their last ten outings.
• France’s potent attack scored in all ten of their last ten fixtures, netting two or more goals in nine of them.
• Senegal proves to be a formidable opponent, suffering only four defeats in their previous 21 matches.
• Prior to a recent loss against Morocco, the African side had an impressive seven-game unbeaten run.
• Furthermore, Senegal’s defence has been robust, achieving five clean sheets in their last ten contests.
• Their most recent result was a 0-0 draw with Saudi Arabia.

France enters the World Cup in superb form, winning eight of their last ten matches. Their dominant World Cup qualifying run highlighted consistent goalscoring, showing their readiness for the tournament’s initial challenges.

In their final preparations, France secured a 3-1 friendly victory over Northern Ireland. This win followed a narrow loss to Ivory Coast, demonstrating the team’s resilience and ensuring positive momentum for the opening match.

France boasts a full-strength squad with no injury concerns, a significant boost. Kylian Mbappé leads their undeniable offensive threat. This provides coach Didier Deschamps with maximum tactical flexibility for the opening World Cup game.

Senegal enters the World Cup with a solid recent record, suffering four defeats in their last 21 games. Their impressive journey to the Africa Cup of Nations 2025 final showcased their quality and resilience, proving them a tough side to overcome.

The longest streak Senegal had during the last 21 games was 7 wins in a row, which suggests consistency and the rising quality of this national team. As Koulibaly has recovered from his injury, Senegal will have a full squad to fight off the Blues and possibly surprise them with a goal or two.

For those wondering where to watch France vs. Senegal, here are the broadcast details for the match.

• TV: BBC One UK
• Streaming: BBC iPlayer, BBC Sport Web, BBC Radio 5 Live (GBR)

As this World Cup 2026 clash approaches, the potential starting XIs give us a look into the teams’ strategies. With no major injury concerns, the France lineup can be deployed at full strength, aiming for early dominance in the competition. Just the same, the Senegal lineup will feature all 11 top players. Both sides will be looking to find the right balance to control the game and start their tournament campaign with a positive result.

M. Maignan; T. Hernandez, W. Saliba, J. Koundé, D. Upamecano, ;  A. Rabiot, A. Tchouaméni; K. Mbappé. M. Olise, D. Doué, O. Dembélé.

Manager: Didier Deschamps.

É. Mendy; K. Koulibaly, E. Diouf, K. Diatta, M. Niakhaté; P. Gueye, I. Sarr, L. Camara; Sadio Mané, N. Jackson, I. Ndiaye.

Manager: Pape Thiaw.

Here are the match details:

• Match: France vs. Senegal
• Competition: World Cup 2026
• Date: 16/06/2026
• Kick-off: 8 PM (BST)
• Venue: MetLife Stadium, United States
• Broadcast: BBC iPlayer, BBC One UK, BBC Sport Web, BBC Radio 5 Live (GBR)

Enjoyed our betting analysis? Share it with your friends and check out more of our predictions on the site.