Former France national team coach Alain Giresse has expressed optimism about Senegal’s chances of progressing beyond the group stage of the 2026 World Cup. Giresse believes Senegal, alongside France and Norway, possess the quality to qualify from Group I, which also includes Iraq. He anticipates a challenging group for France, but predicts all three European and African nations will advance. While hesitant to speculate on their potential deep into the tournament, Giresse acknowledged Senegal’s capability for a strong showing. His comments come ahead of Senegal’s opening match against France, a fixture evoking memories of Senegal’s historic 2002 World Cup victory over the same opponent. Giresse suggests the group’s overall high level of talent will facilitate advancement for these teams.