France boss Didier Deschamps has announced a star-studded 26-man France squad for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, with Kylian Mbappe and Ballon d’Or winner Ousmane Dembele leading an attack that promises plenty of excitement and firepower.
Mbappe will lead out the French, likely captain, despite concerns over the state of his fitness, having suffered from a thigh injury in the latter stages of the season. The Real Madrid forward goes to the tournament with 56 goals for France, only ever bettered by Olivier Giroud.
Dembele has earned a place following a sensational season in Paris, scoring 35 goals for French side PSG, who secured Champions League glory in a treble-winning season. He is still searching for a World Cup goal in his second World Cup and third major international tournament.
In a rapid and talented attack, Real Madrid man Michael Olise and PSG star Desire Doue were also included. Manchester City attacker Rayan Cherki made the cut, along with Arsenal defender William Saliba, being the first of 7 Premier League-based players in this 26-man squad.
Only 4 of the victorious 2018 French squad made the final 26, including the aforementioned Mbappe and Dembele, alongside Lucas Hernandez and N’Golo Kante.
However, some will have been disappointed to have missed out on the likes of Eduardo Camavinga, the Real Madrid man, who featured in the last World Cup, and Tottenham forward Randal Kolo Muani also not make it to the finals. Liverpool striker Hugo Ekitike is injured after suffering an Achilles rupture in April that ended his season, and PSG shot stopper Lucas Chevalier was surprisingly not included for this 26-man squad, as uncapped Lens goalkeeper Robin Risser joins experienced Mike Maignan and Brice Samba in the 3 keepers for the tournament.
Balance in the squad, according to Deschamps, was of paramount importance during the selection process.
“It’s a squad, not necessarily the 26 best players,” the French head coach told the media. “It’s a squad and it’s a team; we have to know where to go.”
The French will kick off their tournament in New Jersey on June 16 against Senegal, before playing Iraq and Norway in their other Group I matches.
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)
