Senegal coach Pape Thiaw has assured the nation that captain Kalidou Koulibaly will be ready for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
The tournament will take place from June 11 to July 19, and will be jointly hosted by sixteen cities—eleven in the United States, three in Mexico, and two in Canada.
The tournament will be the first FIFA World Cup to be hosted by three nations, and the first to include 48 teams, an expansion from 32 previously.
Despite missing a junk of matches for Saudi Pro League club Al-Hilal, Thiaw decided to hand the defender a place in his 28-man squad for the global showpiece.
Asked about the situation, Thiaw said: “He is the captain of this team, the glue that holds the squad together. He is progressing well in his rehabilitation.
“I think that in three weeks, he will be fit for the World Cup. The World Cup isn’t a sprint, it’s a marathon, and I think he will be ready.”
Koulibaly, who missed the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) final in Morocco due to injury, has been sidelined for his club since April.
On Chelsea defender Malang Sarr missing the list for the World Cup, Thiaw explained: “Malang is a player I’ve been following for a long time. We spoke twice on the phone, and the second time was to congratulate him in person.
“He had a good season, but choices had to be made. You never know in football, as he’s on the reserve list. But for now, I prefer to talk about the twenty-eight players who are on the list.”
Senegal will face France, Norway and Iraq in Group I of the tournament.
