The opening of Group I at the 2026 World Cup brings a collision freighted with history. On Tuesday afternoon at the MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey, France begin their campaign against Senegal, the same opponent that delivered one of the tournament's greatest shocks in 2002. That day in Seoul, a Senegal side captained by Aliou Cissé – now their long-serving head coach – toppled the reigning world champions 1-0, setting the stage for a French group-stage exit. Twenty-four years on, the echoes are unmistakable, yet the context has shifted dramatically. France arrive not as brittle holders but as the squad with the highest market value in the competition, estimated at nearly US$1.74 billion, and as finalists in two of the past three World Cups.

Viewed from Paris, the narrative is dominated by the impending departure of Didier Deschamps. The 57-year-old, who lifted the trophy as captain in 1998 and as coach in 2018, has confirmed this will be his final tournament after 14 years at the helm. He dismisses talk of revenge for 2002 as a historical footnote, but the pressure to deliver a third star is immense. Deschamps has made bold selection choices, omitting established names such as Antoine Griezmann and Eduardo Camavinga, and placing faith in a fluid attacking trident of Kylian Mbappé, Ousmane Dembélé and the quietly devastating Michael Olise. Mbappé, under scrutiny for his defensive work-rate at Real Madrid, has publicly promised to track back more diligently – a pledge that, according to Indonesian media reports, came after pointed encouragement from Dembélé and even a teasing challenge from his younger brother Ethan.

In Dakar and across the African continent, the mood is one of guarded optimism. Senegal enter the tournament as reigning African champions, unbeaten in their recent run, and with a core of players seasoned in Europe's top leagues, led by Sadio Mané. The symbolism of Cissé on the touchline – a direct link to the 2002 heroics – reinforces the sense of destiny. Latin American analysts note that while France's attacking riches are unmatched, Senegal's physicality and tactical discipline could exploit the spaces Mbappé's forward line leaves behind. The match is not merely a sentimental reunion; it is a genuine test of France's credentials as overall favourites and of Senegal's capacity to again disrupt the established order.

The wider group dynamics add further intrigue. With Norway and Iraq completing Group I, a positive result for either side would provide a decisive early advantage. Broadcasters from Buenos Aires to Jakarta have cleared schedules for the encounter, reflecting its global resonance. For Deschamps, the match is the first step in what he calls his "last dance", a campaign he hopes will end with him joining the select group of individuals to have won the World Cup as both player and manager twice. For Mbappé, it is a chance to silence doubters and assert his leadership on the game's grandest stage. As the New Jersey sun sets on Tuesday, the outcome will either reinforce France's aura of inevitability or reawaken the spirit of one of football's most enduring upsets.