NEW JERSEY — Senegal unveiled its 28-man preliminary squad for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, with head coach Pape Thiaw stating, “Senegal have big dreams to achieve great things.” The squad must be reduced by two players before the tournament begins in June 2026.

Senegal enters the World Cup ranked 14th by FIFA and unbeaten in qualifying. The team will face France, Norway, and Iraq in Group I, opening its campaign against France on June 16, 2026, at 3 p.m. ET in New Jersey. Additional group-stage matches are scheduled against Norway on June 22 in New Jersey and Iraq on June 26 in Toronto.

Thiaw, who replaced Aliou Cisse as head coach in late 2024, led Senegal to an undefeated qualifying campaign, a 3-1 victory over England at Wembley in June 2025, and an extra-time win over Morocco in the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) 2025 final. During that final, Senegal temporarily left the pitch following a late penalty decision against them; Thiaw instructed the walkout, but star forward Sadio Mane refused to leave and called his teammates back to complete the match. Morocco’s Brahim Diaz missed the penalty, and Senegal ultimately won the game. However, the Confederation of African Football (CAF) later stripped Senegal of the AFCON 2025 title.

Mane, Senegal’s all-time top scorer with 53 goals in 126 appearances, was named AFCON 2025 Player of the Tournament after scoring the winning goal in the semifinal against Egypt. The 34-year-old forward, who missed the previous World Cup due to injury, has stated he will retire from international football after the 2026 tournament. He recently won the Saudi Pro League title with Al-Nassr, where he recorded 10 goals and 6 assists in the 2025-26 season.

The preliminary squad includes veterans such as 35-year-old central defender Kalidou Koulibaly, who holds Senegal’s record for most World Cup appearances alongside Youssouf Sabaly and Ismaila Sarr. Sarr, who plays for Crystal Palace, was instrumental in the win over England. The roster also features younger players like 18-year-old Bayern Munich midfielder Bara Ndiaye. Other notable names include Tottenham’s Pape Matar Sarr, Everton’s Iliman Ndiaye, PSG’s Ibrahim Mbaye, Sunderland’s Habib Diarra, and midfielders Idrissa Gana Gueye and Lamine Camara. Nicolas Jackson is included while on loan at Bayern Munich from Chelsea.

Senegal has appeared in three previous World Cups, with its best result being a quarterfinal run in 2002—its debut tournament—where it defeated defending champions France in its opening match and topped a group that included France, Denmark, and Uruguay. The team lost 1-0 to Turkey in the quarterfinals. Papa Bouba Diop remains Senegal’s top World Cup scorer with three goals.