Senegal releases World Cup squad

Senegal named its final 26-man squad for the 2026 World Cup on Thursday, completing the selection it will take into Group I in the United States and Canada. The list includes Sadio Mané, Kalidou Koulibaly, Nicolas Jackson and Édouard Mendy, according to squad listings published Thursday. (heavy.com) Reports on the announcement said Boulaye Dia and Malang Sarr were among the players left out. FIFA's rules for the tournament allow 26-man final rosters. (fifa.com) The squad release settles one of the last formal steps before Senegal begin their fourth World Cup campaign. FIFA lists Senegal in Group I with France, Norway and Iraq, and says the team's first match is scheduled for June 16 at New York/New Jersey Stadium. (fifa.com) Senegal then face Norway on June 23 and Iraq on June 26. ### Which names are on Senegal's final list? ESPN's current Senegal squad page lists goalkeepers Édouard Mendy, Mory Diaw and Yehvann Diouf, with defenders including Kalidou Koulibaly, Moussa Niakhaté, Ismail Jakobs, Antoine Mendy and Mamadou Sarr. The same page lists midfielders such as Idrissa Gueye, Pape Matar Sarr, Lamine Camara and Habib Diarra, and forwards including Sadio Mané, Nicolas Jackson, Ismaïla Sarr, Iliman Ndiaye and Assane Diao. (heavy.com) Heavy, citing the Thursday release, reported Senegal announced a full 26-player squad plus two additional names. Foot Africa also reported Mané's return was one of the headline points in the selection. (fifa.com) ### Who missed out? Boulaye Dia was not included in the final list, according to reporting Thursday from Italian outlet Lalaziosiamonoi, which reproduced the announced names and said the Lazio forward would not travel with Senegal to the tournament. The same report said Malang Sarr, Habib Diallo, Nampalys Mendy, Cheikh Sabaly, Nobel Mendy and Abdou Diallo were also absent. (espn.com) The upstream social briefing tied to the squad announcement also flagged Boulaye Dia and Malang Sarr among the notable omissions from the published roster. (heavy.com) ### How many players could Senegal take? FIFA said on May 6 that final World Cup squad lists for the 2026 tournament would contain 26 players. That kept in place the same squad size used at the 2022 World Cup, according to FIFA's tournament guidance page. The 26-player limit matters because it forces final cuts even for deeper national-team pools. (lalaziosiamonoi.it) Senegal's list, as published Thursday, fits that cap. ### What group are they in, and when do they play? FIFA lists Senegal in Group I and says their opening game is against France on June 16 at 19:00 in New York/New Jersey. (lalaziosiamonoi.it) The second group match is against Norway on June 23 at 00:00, also in New York/New Jersey, before Senegal close the group stage against Iraq on June 26 at 19:00 in Toronto. Fox Sports, in a schedule page published Wednesday, also said Senegal had learned their group-stage path and match locations for the tournament. (fifa.com) ### What happens next for Senegal? (fifa.com) June 16 is the next fixed date on Senegal's calendar, when the team open their World Cup against France in Group I. FIFA's tournament page shows the group stage running through June 26 for Senegal, with any knockout-stage place determined after matches against Norway and Iraq. (foxsports.com) (fifa.com)