With just a month to go before the start of the 2026 World Cup, Senegal is fine-tuning its preparation by scheduling its final friendly matches. According to Afrik-Foot, the Lions of Teranga are set to face Saudi Arabia in the United States, with the date still to be confirmed, but expected to fall between June 5 and June 9. The two federations have reportedly reached a preliminary agreement, with only a few details left to finalize.
The Senegalese team will kick off their World Cup campaign on June 16 against France in East Rutherford (New Jersey), as part of Group I. The Lions will follow up with a match against Norway on June 22, before taking on a team from the intercontinental playoffs scheduled for next March (Iraq, Bolivia, or Suriname).
Before the competition kicks off, the friendly match schedule is taking shape. On May 31, Hervé Renard’s players will face the United States in Charlotte, followed by a match against Saudi Arabia a few days later. These matches aim to finalize tactical setups and test offensive and defensive combinations ahead of the World Cup.
Saudi Arabia, a qualified opponent
Also qualified for the World Cup, Saudi Arabia will compete in the first round in Group B, alongside Cape Verde, Spain, and Uruguay. This friendly will give Senegal the chance to measure up against a World Cup team, in a similar preparation context.
The Saudi coach, Hervé Renard (57 years old), is a well-known figure in African football. A two-time AFCON winner with Zambia in 2012 and Côte d’Ivoire in 2015, he has also managed Angola, Morocco, and USM Alger. Very attached to Senegal, where his wife is from and he owns a residence, Renard is closely followed by the media and fans, many of whom envision him one day leading the Lions.
Historically, friendlies between Senegal and Saudi Arabia have often been balanced. The last encounter, held on May 14, 2002, in Riyadh, two weeks before the World Cup in South Korea and Japan, ended in a 3-2 victory for Saudi Arabia, despite goals from Souleymane Camara and El Hadji Diouf (penalty) for Senegal. In 1998, the Saudis also won 3-2 in Riyadh, in a friendly played exclusively by local players.
Before facing Saudi Arabia, the Lions will also take on Ecuador on May 31 in New York, a match aimed at indirectly preparing for the World Cup and testing Senegal’s defensive organization against varied playing styles.
