Kylian Mbappe will spearhead France at the 2026 World Cup after national team coach Didier Deschamps announced his 26-man squad for this summer’s tournament in the United States, Canada, and Mexico.
Mbappe is expected to captain the side despite a thigh injury sustained last month that caused him to miss key matches in Real Madrid’s La Liga run-in.
France will lean heavily on the 2024–25 Golden Boot winner and 2025 Ballon d’Or holder Ousmane Dembele to spearhead their hunt for a third World Cup title, with the duo among only three players alongside Lucas Hernandez set to feature in three consecutive World Cups, a run that includes the 2018 title in Russia and the 2022 final.
Deschamps, who guided France to glory in 2018 and will step down after this tournament, included few surprises in his selection, stating: “It’s a squad. Not necessarily the 26 best players. It’s about balance and how the team comes together.”
The biggest shock of the announcement was the omission of Real Madrid midfielder Eduardo Camavinga, who was left out of the squad entirely.
Liverpool striker Hugo Ekitike also missed out after suffering a season-ending Achilles injury in April, while Lens goalkeeper Robin Risser is the only uncapped player included in the group.
France have been placed in Group I, where they will begin their campaign against Senegal on June 16, before facing Iraq on June 22 and Norway on June 26.
The tournament runs across North America from June 11 to July 19, and France are among the favorites to go all the way.
Deschamps, whose reign began in 2012, described this as his seventh and final major international squad announcement, saying simply: “The World Cup is the most important thing.”
France World Cup squad
Goalkeepers: Mike Maignan (AC Milan), Robin Risser (Lens), Brice Samba (Rennes)
Defenders: Lucas Digne (Aston Villa), Malo Gusto (Chelsea), Lucas Hernandez (Paris St-Germain), Theo Hernandez (Al Hilal), Ibrahima Konate (Liverpool), Maxence Lacroix (Crystal Palace), Jules Kounde (Barcelona), William Saliba (Arsenal), Dayot Upamenaco (Bayern Munich)
Midfielders: N’Golo Kante (Fenerbache), Manu Kone (Roma), Adrien Rabiot (AC Milan), Aurelien Tchouameni (Real Madrid), Warren Zaire-Emery (Paris St-Germain)
Forwards: Maghnes Akliouche (Monaco), Bradley Barcola (Paris St-Germain), Rayan Cherki (Man City), Ousmane Dembele (Paris St-Germain), Desire Doue (Paris St-Germain), Michael Olise (Bayern Munich), Kylian Mbappe (Real Madrid), Jean-Phillipe Mateta (Crystal Palace), Marcus Thuram (Inter Milan)
