With just under 28 days until the start of the 2026 World Cup, France has already defined its 26 players who will compete in the tournament. Coach Didier Deschamps presented the final list this Thursday with which the French team will seek to compete for the title again after being the runner-up in Qatar 2022.
The squad combines experience, established stars, and a new generation of talents arriving in great form from European football. Kylian Mbappé will once again lead Les Bleus, accompanied by heavyweights like Ousmane Dembélé, Aurélien Tchouaméni, Dayot Upamecano, and William Saliba.
Additionally, there are players who had an outstanding season and earned a spot in the coach's consideration, such as Michael Olise, Désiré Doué, and Rayan Cherki, three young attackers who have burst onto the scene in Europe and bring freshness to a squad already filled with quality.
However, the list also left out some notable absences. The most shocking was Eduardo Camavinga, midfielder for Real Madrid, who, despite being considered an important piece of the new French generation, was left off the final roster. The 23-year-old midfielder had an irregular season and ultimately failed to convince Deschamps.
"Given the circumstances, both quantitatively and qualitatively, I had to make some cuts. And with an extra match and high temperatures, I prefer to have maximum confidence", the coach explained during the press conference where he announced the squad.
Another name missing in North America is Randal Kolo Muani, remembered for the shot that Emiliano Martínez saved in the final in Qatar, which could have changed the course of the last World Cup. After a poor season at Tottenham, the forward was left out of the final squad.
Antoine Griezmann, one of the historical references of the French team in recent years and a key player in the conquest of Russia 2018, was also not called up, nor was goalkeeper Lucas Chevalier, who recently lost his starting position at Paris Saint-Germain to the Russian Matvey Safonov.
In addition to the absences due to footballing level, France also lost some figures due to injury. The most notable cases are Hugo Ekitiké, who suffered a complete rupture of the Achilles tendon in his right foot, and Ferland Mendy, who, although he had not been getting playing time, was completely ruled out after suffering a muscle tear with bone separation in the tendon of the rectus femoris of the right leg.
With a solid base and new rising stars, France will once again position itself as one of the top contenders in the World Cup to be held in the United States, Mexico, and Canada. The French team will play in Group I against Senegal (16/6), Iraq (22/6), and Norway (26/6).
The 26 players called up by France for the 2026 World Cup
Goalkeepers:
Mike Maignan (Milan)
Brice Samba (Stade Rennes)
Robin Risser (Lens)
Defenders:
William Saliba (Arsenal)
Dayot Upamecano (Bayern Munich)
Ibrahima Konaté (Liverpool)
Maxence Lacroix (Crystal Palace)
Jules Koundé (Barcelona)
Malo Gusto (Chelsea)
