SouthernWorldwide.com – France is widely considered not just a strong contender, but the team to beat for the FIFA 2026 World Cup title.
Having been champions in 2018 and runners-up in 2022, manager Didier Deschamps, who aims to conclude his distinguished coaching career by winning a third title, has announced a 26-man squad that appears more than ready.
However, Deschamps remains grounded.
“I have ambition, and I want the players to have it too,” Deschamps stated at a press conference following the squad announcement. “But I don’t want us to lose our humility. I’m not going to hide and say we’re not among the teams with the potential to become world champions…but there are eight, maybe 10 teams that can say that. It’s not by shouting: ‘We’re the best, we’re the strongest.'”
Here are my key takeaways from France’s World Cup squad selection:
Deschamps’ pragmatic approach has been a cornerstone of his success as an international head coach. While I appreciate his humility, he undoubtedly recognizes the immense depth of his squad. This depth is so profound that several highly talented and recognized players did not make the final cut. The question remains whether these omissions will prove to be a misstep for Deschamps, or if they reflect a truly formidable squad that required balance, experience, and clinical finishing to secure the ultimate prize. Only time will tell.
France possesses such a wealth of talent that it could realistically field two top-tier World Cup squads. The decision to leave out Eduardo Camavinga and Randal Kolo Muani, both members of the 2022 squad, certainly raised eyebrows. However, Deschamps’ choices regarding these two players are not controversial, irrespective of their prior national team involvement.
Camavinga was the only outfield player not to start in either of France’s March friendlies against Brazil and Croatia. His season with Real Madrid was marred by injuries and inconsistent performances, making it difficult to justify his inclusion given these circumstances.
This sentiment is even more applicable to Kolo Muani, who has managed only five goals for Tottenham Hotspur (on loan from PSG), with just one in the Premier League since February. Considering the abundance of attacking options available (even without the injured Liverpool youngster Hugo Ekitiké), Kolo Muani likely anticipated his omission, as did Camavinga.
Despite his individual accolades with Real Madrid, including leading La Liga’s scoring charts, Kylian Mbappé has endured a challenging second season with the club. Real Madrid once again ceded the league title to Barcelona and failed to secure a Champions League trophy, a significant absence from the French captain’s career achievements.
Adding to his difficulties, fan sentiment appears to be turning against him. On Thursday night, after returning from injury and coming on as a substitute in a 2-0 victory against Real Oviedo, he was jeered by his own supporters. The reported strained relationship with manager Álvaro Arbeloa (and previously Xabi Alonso) does little to help his situation. This World Cup presents a crucial opportunity for Mbappé to reset and re-establish himself as the world’s premier attacker. He will need a strong mental fortitude to lead France to their third World Cup title, and his second personal one.
One can only speculate whether a potential return to Madrid might see him welcomed by Jose Mourinho as the new coach. Whether this would be a positive or negative development is for the esteemed reader to decide. However, for France, particularly with a significant number of young players, Deschamps will rely on his leader to perform at his peak, both mentally and physically.
France has historically been celebrated for two esteemed exports: the exquisite red wine from the Bordeaux region and N’Golo Kanté. Both seem to improve with age.
While we may admire the talents of Mbappé, Ballon d’Or winner Ousmane Dembélé, and numerous other attackers, France’s success hinges significantly on the defensive solidity of the team. From the resilient mindset of Arsenal’s William Saliba to Bayern Munich’s Dayot Upamecano, the backline will be critical.
However, I must highlight the consistently brilliant and reliable N’Golo Kanté, who is poised to be France’s most vital player once again. Even at 35, his ability to read the game, provide stability, and make astute tactical decisions during crucial moments will be indispensable. France would undoubtedly be a weaker side without him.
France performs at its best when it is defensively strong, effectively protecting Mike Maignan’s goal and allowing its potent attacking line to flourish in the final third. Deschamps, a former world-class defensive midfielder himself, understands this principle intimately.
And I wouldn’t worry about Kanté’s form; as the playwright David Mamet once wisely observed, “old age and treachery will always outdo youth and exuberance.”
It is important to note the significant number of World Cup debutants in this squad. A total of 13 players will be experiencing the pinnacle of global football for the first time. The goalkeeping trio – Mike Maignan (AC Milan), Robin Risser (Lens), and Brice Samba (Rennes) – are all new to the competition. While players like Malo Gusto from Chelsea, Michael Olise (Bayern Munich), and Rayan Cherki (Manchester City) possess obvious talent, they lack World Cup experience.
France will likely field Olise and PSG’s Désiré Doué in the starting lineup, barring any injuries. However, my focus is on Maignan. He is clearly an experienced and highly-regarded goalkeeper, and this represents a significant opportunity for him. We all recognize the crucial role Hugo Lloris played for France throughout his career, making it imperative for the new goalkeeper to rise to the occasion. Maignan, who missed the 2022 squad due to injury, is now set to seize this chance.
The World Cup is scheduled to take place from June 11 to July 19, 2026. The tournament, hosted across three countries, will conclude with the final on July 19 at the New York New Jersey Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey. All 104 matches of the tournament will be broadcast live across FOX (70 matches) and FS1 (34 matches), with every game available for live streaming and on-demand viewing through both FOX One and the FOX Sports app. A record 40 matches, representing more than a third of the tournament, will be aired in prime time on FOX (21 matches) and FS1 (19 matches).
Read more : Robert Lewandowski Set to Depart Barcelona This Summer
The opening match on June 11 between Mexico and South Africa (3 p.m. ET) will be streamed for free on Tubi, as will the USA’s opening match against Paraguay on June 12 (9 p.m. ET).
