Kalidou Koulibaly

Kalidou Koulibaly is Senegal's captain, named in Pape Thiaw's provisional 28-man squad for the 2026 World Cup as an experienced centre-back. The list is due to be cut to a final 26 by 2 June 2026, so his squad place is still to be sealed even as he leads the side. The Al-Hilal defender is 34 at kick-off, turning 35 during the tournament, and brings 102 senior Senegal caps and two international goals into the group as one of the nation'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 Koulibaly captains that provisional group.

Koulibaly is a Senegal centre-back with a defender's brief: aerial duels, line-keeping, step-up challenges and attacking set-piece threat. He also carries the captaincy, 102 caps, two international goals and Al-Hilal as his club side into the tournament picture.

For Senegal, the experience angle is straightforward. He is listed among the defenders in Pape Thiaw's provisional squad and is expected to wear the armband if he makes the final 26 for what would be his third World Cup.

As Senegal's captain and a physical centre-back, Koulibaly brings aerial strength and the experience of 102 caps and two previous World Cups to the team's Goal Rush slot. Senegal carry a Tier 3 tag, an £17m slot within the game's £200m card budget. With France first up in Group I, before Norway and Iraq, what Koulibaly adds is the heading, blocking and organising of an experienced centre-back when he is in the side.