The countdown to the 2026 World Cupis on! Each day ahead of the tournament’s return to North America, Yahoo Sports will highlight an insight or moment that showcases just how grand the world’s biggest sporting spectacle has become — even beyond the expanded field of this year’s global event.
The opening match of the 2002 World Cup left the soccer world in shock. France were the reigning champions after seeing off Brazil in the 1998 final. Senegal was appearing in its first-ever World Cup
Even without Zinedine Zidane, who was out with a thigh injury, the French still featured a star-studded lineup with the likes of Fabien Barthez, Marcel Desailly and Thierry Henry. But a half hour into the opening match, the Lions of Teranga created their moment.
Coming down the left flank, El Hadji Diouf avoided Frank Leboeuf’s tackle and sent a pass across the France penalty box. The ball went between Desailly’s legs and bounced between Barthez, Emmanuel Petit and Papa Bouba Diop and sat just in front of the goal line where Diop capitalized before initiating an iconic celebration.
🇸🇳 An iconic #FIFAWorldCup moment #OTD in 2002… #GoalOfTheDaypic.twitter.com/2kyz3np5N5
— FIFA World Cup (@FIFAWorldCup) May 31, 2024
“In 1998, four years earlier, we were all sat in front of the TV,” Diop told “So Foot” magazine in 2018. “In Senegal, we supported France. When they won the World Cup, we were out celebrating in the streets. To score against the same team four years later… It was a moment that left a mark on the rest of my life, my children and my family. It’s something that nobody in Senegal will ever forget.”
Senegal would hang strong for the final hour to upset France 1-0 for, what El Hadji Diouf called, the “greatest victory the tournament has ever seen.”
Senegal would scratch out two draws and finish second in the group to advance to the knockout round. There, they topped Sweden 2-1 after Henri Camara's golden goal before their run came to an end in the quarterfinals to Turkey via golden goal.
France would draw with Uruguay and lose to group winners Denmark to bow out before the knockout stage.
