Karim Benzema Misses France vs Senegal FIFA World Cup 2026 Match

Karim Benzema is not playing in France's FIFA World Cup 2026 campaign opener against Senegal due to his retirement from international football in 2022.

He suffered a quadriceps injury during the last edition of the FIFA World Cup and did not feature in a single game.

The Al Hilal forward had a successful Saudi Pro League 2025-26 season, scoring 9 goals and assisting 2.

Benzema retired from international football after the 2022 FIFA World Cup, ending his France career with 97 appearances and 37 goals.

He was excluded from the 2018 FIFA World Cup squad due to an internal investigation for blackmailing a teammate.

France begins its FIFA World Cup 2026 campaign against Senegal on June 16, 2026, at the MetLife Stadium in New Jersey.

The team will have to rely on other players to fill the gap left by Benzema's retirement.

Benzema made a successful return to the team for Euro 2020, scoring 4 goals before eventually dropping out of the squad due to injuries.

He had a prolific club career, but his international career was cut short due to injuries and controversies.

The forward's retirement from international football was announced in 2022, and he has not played for France since then.

France won the 2018 FIFA World Cup without Benzema, and they will be looking to repeat that success in the 2026 tournament.