Patrick Vieira avoids choosing between France and Senegal after World Cup question

Patrick Vieira refused to say whether he had supported France or Senegal when the two sides met at the 2026 World Cup, choosing instead to praise the match and avoid upsetting either country.

The new Senegal manager was asked about his loyalties on Friday during his official presentation and the announcement of his first squad. The question was put to him by Senegalese journalists, who highlighted the unusual position of a man born in Dakar but celebrated as a France international.

Vieira was part of the France team that won the 1998 World Cup and finished runners-up in 2006. He also played in the 2002 World Cup match between France and Senegal, which France lost 1-0.

However, the question put to him on Friday concerned the more recent meeting between the nations on 16 June 2026. Vieira watched that game from the stands at MetLife Stadium in New York, where France won 3-1.

Asked directly which team he had wanted to win, Vieira avoided giving a definitive answer.

“I was at the stadium, and it was important for me to see a very good football match and for the best team to win,” he said.

The response allowed Vieira to maintain his links with both countries without publicly choosing one over the other. He has previously described his appointment as Senegal manager as an “absolute dream” and a “return home”.

His decision not to take sides also comes as he begins a job in which his responsibilities will now lie solely with Senegal. The Lions’ first fixtures under Vieira will be in qualifying for the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations, against Mozambique and Ethiopia.

Senegal will then face Comoros in a friendly in France, with the match scheduled to take place in Marseille.

Vieira therefore begins his tenure with three matches already in view, having been appointed to lead a team with which he has a personal connection while also carrying the history of his international career with France.

The former midfielder’s background made Friday’s question almost inevitable. Born in Senegal, he went on to represent France at the highest level and became a world champion in 1998. Yet, with his new role now formally under way, he opted to leave the France-Senegal debate unresolved.