The FIFA World Cup 2026 will mark the fourth appearance of Senegal on football’s biggest stage. Since making their debut in 2002, the Lions of Teranga have established themselves as one of Africa’s most competitive and respected national teams, consistently challenging some of the world’s footballing powerhouses.
After narrowly missing out on the knockout stages in Qatar 2022, Senegal will arrive in the United States, Canada, and Mexico with renewed ambition and a talented squad capable of making a deep run in the tournament. Many experts believe the West African nation has the quality, experience, and resilience to emerge as one of the surprise packages of the expanded 48-team World Cup.
Before the FIFA World Cup 2026 kicks off across North America, let’s take a look at some of the most important FIFA World Cup records, milestones, and statistics in Senegal’s history.
Note: All the records are till FIFA World Cup 2022
(Team Records)
Contents
Brief records
Hosts
Best Result
Final place in every edition
Last records
Match records (Top 3)
> Biggest winning margin
> Biggest losing margin
Senegal’s brief records in FIFA World Cup history
Participation | Matches | Won | Drawn* | Penalty shootout | Lost | Winning %* | |
Won | Lost | ||||||
4/23 | 12 | 5 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 41.66% |
(Drawn: including penalty shootout matches; Winning %: excluding penalty shootouts)
Hosts: Never
Best Result: Quarter-finals (2002)
Senegal’s final place in every FIFA World Cup
Year | Host(s) | Last position |
1930 | Uruguay | Did not enter |
1934 | Italy | Did not enter |
1938 | France | Did not enter |
1950 | Brazil | Did not enter |
1954 | Switzerland | Did not enter |
1958 | Sweden | Did not enter |
1962 | Chile | Did not enter |
1966 | England | Withdrew |
1970 | Mexico | Did not qualify |
1974 | West Germany | Did not qualify |
1978 | Argentina | Did not qualify |
1982 | Spain | Did not qualify |
1986 | Mexico | Did not qualify |
1990 | Italy | Withdrew |
1994 | USA | Did not qualify |
1998 | France | Did not qualify |
2002 | South Korea & Japan | Quarter-finals |
2006 | Germany | Did not qualify |
2010 | South Africa | Did not qualify |
2014 | Brazil | Did not qualify |
2018 | Russia | Group Stage |
2022 | Qatar | Round of 16 |
2026* | North America | Qualified* |
Last time in FIFA World Cup for Senegal:
Last Quarter-finals exit: 2002
Last Round of 16 exit: 2022
Last Group Stage exit: 2018
Last Failed to Qualify: 2014
Senegal’s match records in FIFA World Cup (Top 3)
Biggest winning margin | Biggest losing margin |
3-1 vs Qatar in 2022 | 3-0 vs England in 2022 |
2-1 vs Poland in 2018 | 2-0 vs Netherlands in 2022 |
2-1 vs Sweden in 2002 (extra-time) | 1-0 vs Colombia in 2018 |
(Players’ Records)
Contents
Top 4 most appearances
Top 5 most goals
Top 4 most appearances for Senegal in FIFA World Cup
Player | Appearances |
Kalidou Koulibaly | 6 |
Youssouf Sabaly | 5 |
Idrissa Gueye | 5 |
Ismaïla Sarr | 5 |
Top 5 most goals for Senegal in FIFA World Cup
Player | Goals |
Papa Bouba Diop | 3 |
Henri Camara | 2 |
Salif Diao | 1 |
Khalilou Fadiga | 1 |
M'Baye Niang | 1 |
