Viral World Cup airport footage sparks outrage - Now Senegal have responded | OneFootball

Senegal's World Cup begins on 16 June with a clash against France

West Ham’s El Hadji Malick Diouf will represent Senegal at the World Cup this summer.

The left-back will be one of over 30 players competing in the competition from the Championship, with the opening game taking place on Thursday evening.

Senegal reached the Last 16 of the previous World Cup before suffering a 3-0 defeat to England, eliminating them from the tournament.

Pape Thiaw’s side will face France, Norway and Iraq in Group I, and they will be aiming to at least reach the knock-out phase despite a difficult set of fixtures in the opening stages.

The West Ham star is likely to feature in the backline, provided he remains fit for selection, and he has the chance to be a breakout star if Senegal can earn some creditable results.

However, the World Cup has not been short of controversy in the lead-up to the first game, with the hosts the United States receiving a lot of criticism.

Senegal react to viral footage of US inspections

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A video of the Senegal delegates being inspected after arriving in the United States has gone viral.

The World Cup host nation has received a lot of criticism for their handling of players, fans and officials entering the country for the tournament.

This reached a peak when Somali referee Omar Abdulkadir Artan was not granted entry into the country despite being selected by FIFA as one of the officials for the competition.

And Senegal have felt the force of the United States’ draconian entry rules, with players being searched individually immediately after exiting their plane.

The Fédération Sénégalaise de Football (FSF) have responded to this footage being spread around online, explaining that it was all part of an agreement they made to speed up the process of getting into the US.

They have made it clear that they had no issues with the procedures, and that it actually allowed them to skip a lot of the typical security steps they’d have to normally take when going through the airport.

"Following the circulation on social media of a video showing players and members of the national team staff undergoing a security check on the tarmac of an airport, we wish to provide the following clarifications to avoid any erroneous interpretation,” wrote the FSF, via Give Me Sport.

"Contrary to certain information that has been shared, this control did not take place upon the team's arrival in San Antonio, but rather at the time of boarding at Raleigh airport on Sunday, June 7, 2026, before the flight's departure.

"As part of the logistical organization of the trip, the bus transporting the national team left the hotel in Raleigh to go directly to the airport tarmac.

“This procedure allowed the players and staff to undergo all the security and police checks directly at the foot of the plane, without having to go through the usual airport terminal zones and boarding lounges.

"This arrangement was primarily intended to optimize the delegation's travel time and facilitate their boarding onto the private flight to San Antonio.

“We wish to emphasize that this procedure was carried out in compliance with the applicable airport security regulations and that no particular incident was reported.

"The private flight from Raleigh to San Antonio took place under excellent conditions, and the entire delegation arrived at its destination normally."

Senegal’s World Cup will begin on 16 June with a clash against France at the MetLife Stadium in New Jersey, with a kick-off of 8pm in the United Kingdom and Ireland.

The African nation will be hoping to make a strong start, and a victory over the 2022 runners-up would replicate their stunning start to the 2002 World Cup, where they beat the holders 1-0 in Seoul.

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Senegal can create a stir at the World Cup

Tensions are running high in the lead-up to this World Cup due to the tournament being shrouded in controversy, so it’s not surprising that this footage sparked initial outrage.

But Senegal could actually cause a few upsets when the competition does get underway.

Their clash with France will be a great first test of their credentials, and Norway and Iraq will also prove difficult fixtures, but if they can get through the group then they could be tough to beat in the knock-outs.

Malick Diouf had a strong Premier League campaign, even with West Ham suffering relegation, and the Championship side will be keeping a keen eye on his progress over the next few weeks.