France begin their World Cup 2026 campaign on Tuesday, June 16 against Senegal at MetLife Stadium — the last tournament of the Didier Deschamps era, with captain Kylian Mbappé chasing the one number that still eludes a stacked generation: a third star. Here is the complete Group I guide.
Group I: the lay of the land
Group I pairs France with Senegal, Norway and Iraq. It is arguably the most physical group an elite seed drew: Senegal are perennial African heavyweights, and Norway bring one of the most direct attacking profiles in the field. Iraq, qualified through the playoff route, complete the quartet.
France stay entirely in the Northeast corridor — New Jersey, Philadelphia, Foxborough — three venues within a four-hour drive of each other. Among the contenders, only Brazil have a comparably compact travel map.
France fixtures: Group I schedule (ET)
Every France group-stage match, with venues and Eastern Time kickoffs from the official tournament schedule.
| Date (2026) | Opponent | Venue | Kickoff (ET) | TV |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tue, June 16 | Senegal | MetLife Stadium, East Rutherford, NJ | 3:00 PM | FOX or FS1 / Telemundo |
| Mon, June 22 | Iraq | Lincoln Financial Field, Philadelphia | 5:00 PM | FOX or FS1 / Telemundo |
| Fri, June 26 | Norway | Gillette Stadium, Foxborough, MA | 3:00 PM | FOX or FS1 / Telemundo |
The Senegal opener is a rematch of one of the great World Cup upsets — Senegal 1, France 0 in 2002 — a result that still ranks high in our list of the biggest World Cup upsets ever.
The squad: Deschamps’ last 26
Didier Deschamps, who announced this tournament will close his 14-year reign, named a squad with exceptional depth in every line. Captain Kylian Mbappé is closing in on Olivier Giroud’s all-time France scoring record, and the supporting cast is frightening: PSG’s Champions League-winning trio of Ousmane Dembélé, Bradley Barcola and Désiré Doué arrive in form.
Behind them, William Saliba, Jules Koundé and Dayot Upamecano headline a defense with genuine club-elite pedigree, while Theo Hernandez and Lucas Digne compete at left-back. Few squads in the 48-team field can absorb an injury at every position the way this one can.
World Cup pedigree
Two titles (1998, 2018) and four finals, including the epic 2022 decider lost on penalties to Argentina. France have reached at least the final in three of the last four World Cups — a level of sustained tournament excellence no other European nation currently matches. The full lineage is in our history of every final.
Tactical profile
Deschamps remains tournament football’s great pragmatist: a 4-3-1-1 or 4-2-3-1 that concedes possession willingly and weaponizes transition. France routinely post modest possession numbers and elite expected-goals (xG) efficiency — the inverse of Spain’s profile and proof there are two roads to a title.
The interesting wrinkle this cycle is the press: with Dembélé and Doué pressing from the front, the 2026 version wins the ball higher than any Deschamps side before it.
How to watch in the USA
Every France match airs in English on FOX or FS1 with streaming on the FOX Sports app; Spanish-language coverage is on Telemundo or Universo with all 104 matches streaming on Peacock.
See our complete US broadcast guide for window-by-window detail, and the official squad list on FIFA’s tournament site.
FAQ
When does France play their first World Cup 2026 match?
France open against Senegal on Tuesday, June 16, 2026 at 3:00 PM ET at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey.
Is this Didier Deschamps’ last tournament with France?
Yes. Deschamps announced that the 2026 World Cup will be his final tournament in charge, ending a reign that began in 2012 and included the 2018 title.
Who is in France’s World Cup 2026 group?
Group I contains France, Senegal, Norway and Iraq. France play Senegal June 16, Iraq June 22 in Philadelphia, and Norway June 26 in Foxborough, Massachusetts.
What channel are France matches on in the USA?
In English on FOX or FS1 (FOX Sports app for streaming); in Spanish on Telemundo or Universo, with every match streaming on Peacock.