Idrissa Gueye

Idrissa Gueye is named in Senegal's provisional 28-man squad for the 2026 World Cup, a defensive midfielder in Pape Thiaw's group. The list is due to be cut to a final 26 by 2 June 2026, so his place is at the projected stage for now. The Everton midfielder is 36 at kick-off and brings 130 senior Senegal caps and seven international goals into the group as one of the country's most-capped players.

Senegal play in Group I, opening against France at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford on 16 June, with Norway and Iraq to follow. Pape Thiaw's side qualified by winning CAF Group B in October 2025, and Gueye is listed among the midfielders in that provisional squad, with Kalidou Koulibaly the captain.

Gueye is a defensive midfielder whose game is built on energy, tackling and covering ground in front of the back four. He breaks up opposition attacks, wins the ball back quickly and keeps the midfield ticking with simple, forward passing, the screening work an experienced holding player gives a side.

For Senegal he is one of the most-capped players in the country's history, with 130 appearances and seven goals behind him. His running and ball-winning keep him among Pape Thiaw's midfield options heading into a third World Cup.

Gueye gives Senegal the ball-winning and energy of a 130-cap international in the centre of midfield. Senegal's £17m, Tier 3 billing leaves plenty of the game's £200m card budget unspent, short of the premium top band. Across Group I, which opens against France, his game is the tackling, control and screening of a holding midfielder in front of the back four, with simple forward passing to keep the team ticking whenever he plays.