The tournament will take place from June 11th to July 19th, 2026, and will be jointly hosted by sixteen cities - eleven in the United States, three in Mexico, and two in Canada.
The tournament will be the first FIFA World Cup to be hosted by three nations, and the first to include 48 teams, an expansion from 32 previously.
Senegal have qualified for four FIFA World Cups (2002, 2018, 2022, and 2026). Across 12 matches, their overall record is five wins, three draws, and four defeats, with 16 goals scored and 17 conceded.
Their best performance was a run to the quarter-finals in 2002. They advanced past the group stage for the second time in their history, but they were eliminated in the Round of 16 by England.
Unbeaten in qualifying, Pape Thiaw’s men progressed by securing first place in Group B of the African preliminaries, beating Mauritania 4-0 in their final fixture on 14 October to earn top spot ahead of Congo DR.
The two-point gap between the sides was the result of a 3-2 Senegal triumph in Congo the previous month.
Senegal captain Koulibaly is already beaming with confidence as they prepare for their group opener against France.
Senegal is ready to succeed
“When you have a squad of that calibre with talented players who have won the (UEFA) Champions League and are top scorers at their respective clubs… even at European level it’s hard to find a way to get a result against them,” the former Chelsea defender told FIFA.com.
“But we will do everything we can to succeed because representing our country means everything to us. And when you pull on that Senegal shirt, it gives you something extra and makes you want to perform at your best. That’s the spirit we’ll be taking into these matches.”
This will be the second time Senegal will be coming up against France in the group stage of the World Cup. In their debut campaign in 2002, the West Africans stunned the then-defending champions 1-0 in the opening match.
They advanced to the knockout stage unbeaten and reached the quarter-finals, becoming the second African nation to ever achieve this feat.
Senegal want to match class of 2002
Reflecting on the victory against France, Koulibaly said: “I remember this match like it was yesterday… I was 11 years old at the time and I even remember which classes were there when I watched the game!
“It was pure joy when Senegal legend Papa Bouba (Diop) scored after the cut-back from the great El-Hadji Diouf. It was a truly special moment – the goal itself, the joy it sparked among the fans and, of course, the dance celebration.”
The 34-year-old, who plays for Saudi Pro League club Al-Hilal, continued: “I still remember copying the dance with all my friends as a kid.
“These moments really strengthened our bond with our country and made us believe that Senegal could go far in major tournaments. I think it’s still an inspiration for us all today.
“All the players of my generation know about the class of 2002 and, while today’s youngsters might not be so familiar with them, we want to match their performance, if not improve on it.”
On being a role model for Senegal, he said: “I see it as our duty to set an example, both on and off the pitch. After all, Senegalese people are known for their humility. We’re not there to show off – we are there to show what we can do on the pitch.
“We have a core of experienced players to set an example. When you see Sadio Mane who is the first in the gym, or Edouard Mendy who speaks so well in front of the group … and Idrissa Gana Gueye who, despite his age (36), covers more ground than some of the younger players, it sets a great example for the rest of the group.
“This is the mentality that has enabled us to win titles in the past.”
Senegal will kick off their campaign against Les Bleus on June 16th at MetLife Stadium, New Jersey, take on Norway on June 22nd, before winding up their group matches against Iraq.