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2026 World Cup Day 6 Preview: France Takes on Senegal; Iraq Meets Norway; Argentina Faces Algeria; Austria Battles Jordan

Four years ago, France ended as runners-up after being champions in the previous tournament. Their World Cup history is a rollercoaster—sometimes triumphing spectacularly, other times falling short without winning a match. In 2002, they lost their opening game to Senegal, a team that made it to the quarterfinals then and reached the Round of 16 in the last World Cup.

Senegal recently won the Africa Cup of Nations in January but lost the title due to administrative reasons two months later. Despite that, their squad remains strong and eager to prove themselves.

  • Date / Time: Tuesday, June 16, 2026, 3pm EDT; 8pm BST
  • Venue: MetLife Stadium, East Rutherford, NJ, USA
  • Referee: Alireza Faghani (Iran)
  • Broadcast: FOX, Telemundo (USA); BBC One (UK)
  • Streaming: FOX One, Peacock (USA); BBC iPlayer (UK)

Chelsea fans will keep an eye on Malo Gusto, who has become a regular for France, and N’Golo Kanté, making a comeback after moving from Saudi Arabia to Fenerbahçe on loan. Senegal counters with former Chelsea defender Kalidou Koulibaly, goalkeeper Édouard Mendy, and Nicolas Jackson, whose unpredictable performances add intrigue. Mamadou Sarr is another name to watch, having been recalled from Strasbourg earlier this year.

Iraq vs. Norway

Iraq's only previous World Cup was in 1986, where they lost all matches. Norway's last appearance was in 1998, reaching the Round of 16. This time, Norway carries hope with Erling Haaland playing his first World Cup, making them dark horses in some eyes.

  • Date / Time: Tuesday, June 16, 2026, 6pm EDT; 11pm BST
  • Venue: Gillette Stadium, Foxborough, MA, USA
  • Referee: Pierre Atcho (Gabon)
  • Broadcast: FOX, Telemundo (USA); BBC One (UK)
  • Streaming: FOX One, Peacock (USA); BBC iPlayer (UK)

No Chelsea players feature on either side. Antonio Nusa, linked with Chelsea in 2023, chose RB Leipzig and remains there for now.

Argentina vs. Algeria

Argentina aims to be the first team since Brazil in 1962 to defend the World Cup title. Their squad is mostly the same as four years ago, with 17 returning players. Ángel Di María’s retirement marks a significant change, but Argentina is unlikely to panic even if Algeria surprises them, remembering their shock loss to Saudi Arabia in 2022.

  • Date / Time: Tuesday, June 16, 2026, 9pm EDT; 2am BST (next day)
  • Venue: Arrowhead Stadium, Kansas City, MO, USA
  • Referee: Szymon Marciniak (Poland)
  • Broadcast: FOX, Telemundo (USA); ITV 1 (UK)
  • Streaming: FOX One, Peacock (USA); ITVx (UK)

Chelsea connections include Enzo Fernández and Valentín Barco, who is expected to join the club soon. Lionel Messi remains part of the squad as well.

Austria vs. Jordan

Often the less-talked-about matches provide the most excitement. Austria performed surprisingly well at the last Euros, reaching the Round of 16. Jordan were runners-up in the Asian Cup in 2023, losing to Qatar. Only one player on their roster plays in Europe, adding a layer of mystery to their performance.

  • Date / Time: Tuesday, June 16, 2026, 9pm PDT; 5am BST (next day)
  • Venue: Levi’s Stadium, Santa Clara, CA, USA
  • Referee: Dahane Beida (Mauritania)
  • Broadcast: FOX Sports 1, Telemundo (USA); BBC One (UK)
  • Streaming: FOX One, Peacock (USA); BBC iPlayer (UK)

Former Chelsea player Carney Chukwuemeka switched allegiance to Austria this year, making appearances after being born in Vienna. He managed to stay healthy this season, appearing 38 times for Borussia Dortmund.

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