Fifa unveiled, on Saturday, the Blues' schedule for the 2026 World Cup: Senegal in New York on June 16, play-off in Philadelphia on the 22nd, Norway in Boston on the 26th. In the event of first place, France would remain on the East coast until the final stages.

Published on: 06/12/2025 - 18:52Modified on: 06/12/2025 - 19:23

The French team will play its first three matches of the 2026 World Cup on the East Coast of the United States: in New York on June 16 against Senegal, on the 22nd in Philadelphia against a play-off (Bolivia, Iraq or Suriname) then on June 26 in Boston against Norway, Fifa announced on Saturday December 6.

If the Blues finish first in group 1, they will remain on the East Coast, during almost the entirety of the next phase, with adversity destined to move up in quality as long as the big names supposed to cross their path hold their rank by also emerging victorious from their group.

Thus, after a round of 16 in New York against one of the eight best 3rds, Germany could possibly be in the round of 16 in Philadelphia, then the Netherlands in the quarterfinals in Boston.

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Only the semi-final, potentially against the Spanish European champions, would force the Tricolores to travel several hours by plane to reach Dallas, Texas (south-central), before a final as a possible remake of 2022 against defending champion Argentina, again in New York, at Metlife Stadium.

Looking for a base camp

On a practical, logistical, but also economic level and in terms of fatigue and environmental footprint, the calendar revealed by Fifa is particularly accommodating for Didier Deschamps' team, who will compete in the United States in his fourth final phase of a World Cup in the coach's shoes.

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The first decision that now falls to him with his staff and the president of the FFF, Philippe Diallo, is to find the base camp where the entire delegation will take up residence for the duration of the tournament. However, as top seed, France has priority in establishing its choice, which must be notified to Fifa before January 9.

In many ways, the New York region seems to check all the boxes. First for the journeys: it takes approximately 1 hour 30 minutes by road or train to go to Philadelphia and 1 hour 15 minutes by flight to reach Boston. Enough to spare the organisms, which could count after five weeks of tournament (June 11 - July 19).

Risk of extreme heat during this period

The Blues, on the other hand, could suffer from the great summer heat which does not spare the northeast of the United States, with trying temperatures and humidity, as many of the players expected in the group of 23 who participated in the Club World Cup this summer were able to observe.

And the times of the three matches of the Blues in uncovered stadiums, therefore not air-conditioned, will not help matters: they will play against Senegal at 3 p.m. local time (9 p.m. French), against the still unknown play-off at 5 p.m. (11 p.m.) and against Norway at 3 p.m. (9 p.m.).

With AFP

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