{"id":1485,"date":"2026-06-12T17:30:37","date_gmt":"2026-06-12T21:30:37","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.squawka.com\/ca\/?post_type=news&p=1485"},"modified":"2026-06-12T17:41:36","modified_gmt":"2026-06-12T21:41:36","slug":"match-preview-france-vs-senegal-06-16-26-world-cup-2026","status":"publish","type":"news","link":"https:\/\/www.squawka.com\/ca\/news\/world-cup\/match-preview-france-vs-senegal-06-16-26-world-cup-2026\/","title":{"rendered":"France vs Senegal: Prediction, Picks & Best Bets"},"content":{"rendered":"

Les Bleus kick off their 2026 FIFA World Cup<\/a> campaign across the border at MetLife Stadium on Tuesday, June 16, with Senegal first up in a Group I draw that nobody fancied. Kickoff is 3:00 PM ET \/ 2:00 PM CT \/ 1:00 PM MT \/ 12:00 PM PT.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n

If the fixture sounds familiar, it should. The last time France opened a World Cup against Senegal, the reigning champions went home with one of the worst defeats in the tournament’s modern era \u2014 the 1-0 loss on May 31, 2002 still sits in the highlight reels. Twenty-four years on, the favourites are again the ones with everything to lose, while the Teranga Lions arrive as the most credentialled African side in the field.<\/p>\n\n

Senegal will not be intimidated. They have pace through the spine, real Premier League and Bundesliga quality up top, and a squad that has been through this before. France will be the better team on paper across the 90, but anyone calling this a routine opener has not watched either side play in the last twelve months.<\/p>\n\n

The price reflects the gap in pedigree more than the gap in danger. bet365 has France at -225 with the draw +350 and Senegal +550 \u2014 a typical short-favourite shape for a top-tier nation against a respected outsider. Worth noting on the over side too: the French back line has not exactly been a wall in recent windows.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

France vs Senegal: Best Bets & Predictions<\/h2>\n\n

The lean is France on the result, with the goal totals pointing toward a livelier game than the moneyline suggests.<\/p>\n\n

\n
Our Prediction<\/th>Odds & Sportsbook<\/th>Confidence<\/th>Why We’re Backing It<\/th><\/tr><\/thead>
France to Win<\/strong><\/td>-225 @ bet365<\/strong><\/a>
(69%)<\/td>		\u2b50\u2b50\u2b50\u2b50<\/td>No team in the group can match Les Bleus for top-end talent or recent major-tournament experience \u2014 the depth chart simply runs deeper.<\/td><\/tr>\n
Correct Score: 2-1 France<\/strong><\/td>+800 @ bet365<\/strong><\/a>
(11%)<\/td>		\u2b50\u2b50\u2b50<\/td>Senegal have the firepower to land a punch, but France’s edge should still show on the board \u2014 a one-goal swing fits the pattern.<\/td><\/tr>\n
Kylian Mbapp\u00e9<\/strong> anytime scorer<\/td>Check bet365<\/strong><\/a><\/td>\u2b50\u2b50\u2b50\u2b50<\/td>Sits two short of becoming his country’s all-time top scorer, takes the penalties, and started every qualifier \u2014 there are very few games he doesn’t get a sight of goal in.<\/td><\/tr>\n
Over 2.5 Goals<\/strong><\/td>-125 @ bet365<\/strong><\/a>
(56%)<\/td>		\u2b50\u2b50\u2b50<\/td>Just one clean sheet across France’s last five outings tells the story \u2014 both attacks are stocked, both back lines have been opened up.<\/td><\/tr>\n
Both Teams to Score: Yes<\/strong><\/td>+100 @ bet365<\/strong><\/a>
(50%)<\/td>		\u2b50\u2b50\u2b50<\/td>Senegal’s forwards carry enough pace to punish a French rearguard that has shipped goals against weaker opposition this year.<\/td><\/tr>\n<\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n

How we’d stack it: lead with France on the moneyline, then layer Over 2.5 and BTTS Yes as a correlated read on an opener that ought to flow.<\/p>\n\n

Odds correct at the time of writing. Please play responsibly.<\/small><\/p>\n\n

Group I \u2014 2026 FIFA World Cup<\/h2>\n\n

France and Senegal share Group I with Iraq and Norway. With no fixtures played, the table below simply mirrors the seeding from the draw rather than any live standings.<\/p>\n\n

\n
Team<\/th>Pos<\/th>GP<\/th>W<\/th>D<\/th>L<\/th>GF<\/th>GA<\/th>GD<\/th>Pts<\/th><\/tr><\/thead>
France<\/strong><\/td>1<\/td>0<\/td>0<\/td>0<\/td>0<\/td>0<\/td>0<\/td>0<\/td>0<\/td><\/tr>\n
Senegal<\/strong><\/td>2<\/td>0<\/td>0<\/td>0<\/td>0<\/td>0<\/td>0<\/td>0<\/td>0<\/td><\/tr>\n
Iraq<\/strong><\/td>3<\/td>0<\/td>0<\/td>0<\/td>0<\/td>0<\/td>0<\/td>0<\/td>0<\/td><\/tr>\n
Norway<\/strong><\/td>4<\/td>0<\/td>0<\/td>0<\/td>0<\/td>0<\/td>0<\/td>0<\/td>0<\/td><\/tr>\n<\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n

Potential Match-Winners<\/h2>\n\n