Everyone thinks they know the drill with Les Bleus. You’ve got Kylian Mbappé, a bunch of incredible athletes, and a manager who’s been there since the dawn of time. But looking at the French squad for World Cup 2026, things are actually way more chaotic—and interesting—than the "favorites" tag suggests.
Honestly, the vibe is shifting.
It isn't just about the old guard anymore. Sure, Didier Deschamps is still the man with the plan, but he’s already announced this is his last dance. The 57-year-old confirmed in early 2025 that he’s stepping down after this tournament. That changes the energy. Every decision he makes now with the French squad for World Cup selection feels like he's trying to leave a legacy, or maybe just settle old scores before he hands the keys over to (most likely) Zinedine Zidane.
The Mbappé Factor and the New Captaincy
Kylian Mbappé is 27 now. Think about that. He’s no longer the "kid" from Bondy who took Russia by storm. He’s the captain, the Real Madrid superstar, and frankly, the guy who carries the weight of a nation.
People keep talking about records. He’s currently sitting on 55 international goals, just two shy of Olivier Giroud’s all-time record of 57. He’ll probably break it before the bus even leaves for the opening match against Senegal in Group I.
But there’s a weird tension. Have you noticed? In the recent qualifiers, like that 4-0 win over Ukraine that punched their ticket to North America, Mbappé looked lethal, scoring twice. Yet, the Spanish media has been on his back about "selfishness" at Real Madrid, especially after he missed the Super Cup semi-final with knee issues only to pop up in the final.
Deschamps doesn’t care about the Madrid noise. To him, the French squad for World Cup is Mbappé plus ten.
The 2025/2026 Midfield Identity Crisis
This is where it gets tricky. For years, you could close your eyes and name the midfield. Kanté, Pogba, maybe Matuidi back in the day. Now? It’s a bit of a blender.
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N’Golo Kanté is still kicking around, remarkably. But the engine room is now being built around the Real Madrid duo of Eduardo Camavinga and Aurélien Tchouaméni. They’re the "un-droppable" ones.
However, keep an eye on Warren Zaïre-Emery. The PSG youngster isn't a prospect anymore; he’s a pillar. And then there's the Maghnes Akliouche situation. The Monaco playmaker got his first call-up in late 2025 and actually scored in the qualifier against Azerbaijan. He brings a level of craft that France sometimes lacks when they just try to outrun teams.
Who's In and Who's Out?
Predicting a French squad for World Cup roster is usually a nightmare because the talent pool is absurdly deep. Deschamps has some favorites, but he’s also shown he’ll cut big names if they don’t fit his "togetherness" mantra.
Take Hugo Ekitiké. He’s been crushing it at Liverpool, but Deschamps left him out of the early 2026 squads. Why? Maybe tactical, maybe personality. Meanwhile, Ousmane Dembélé is coming off a 2025 Ballon d'Or win after a massive season with PSG. He’s essentially the second name on the team sheet after Mbappé.
The Defensive Wall
William Saliba has finally become what Arsenal fans knew he was: the best center-back in the world. He’s the anchor now.
- William Saliba: The locked-in starter.
- Ibrahima Konaté: Usually starts alongside Saliba if fit.
- Dayot Upamecano: The high-risk, high-reward option.
- Lucas Hernández: The veteran presence who can play anywhere.
Behind them, Mike Maignan is the undisputed Number 1. There was a time when replacing Hugo Lloris felt impossible, but "Magic Mike" has made people forget there was ever a transition. He’s probably the best shot-stopper in the tournament.
The Young Wildcards
If you want to sound smart at the pub, talk about Ayyoub Bouaddi.
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He’s 18. He plays for Lille. He’s a math genius (literally, he’s doing a degree while playing pro football). Deschamps loves players who are "switched on," and Bouaddi is the definition of that. He hasn't fully cemented a spot in the French squad for World Cup yet, but the buzz in Paris is that he’s the "secret weapon" for the 2026 cycle.
Then there’s Michael Olise. His move to Bayern Munich took him to another level. His delivery from wide areas is something France hasn't really had—a specialist left-footer who can put it on a dime. He scored twice in the qualifiers and looks like he’s stolen Kingsley Coman’s spot on the right wing.
The "End of an Era" Narrative
Let's talk about the pressure.
France has reached the last two World Cup finals. 2018 was a dream. 2022 was a heartbreak in the desert. If they reach the final on July 19, 2026, they’ll equal Brazil and West Germany as the only teams to make three consecutive finals.
The concern isn't talent. It’s fatigue.
The French players play more minutes than almost anyone else. Between the expanded Champions League and the Club World Cup, these guys are exhausted. We saw it in Euro 2024 where the team looked "leggy."
Deschamps’ biggest challenge with the French squad for World Cup isn't picking the best 26 players. It's picking the 26 freshest players. That’s why you’re seeing guys like Bradley Barcola and Désiré Doué get more minutes. They have the "young legs" that the older stars might be lacking by the time June rolls around.
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Tactical Shifts: Beyond the 4-2-3-1
For a decade, Deschamps was accused of being boring. "Pragmatic" was the polite word.
But lately, we’ve seen a shift to a more fluid 4-3-3 that looks like a 3-4-3 in possession. With Theo Hernández and Malo Gusto (or Jules Koundé) pushing so high, the full-backs are basically wingers. This puts a massive physical load on the holding midfielders—Tchouaméni and Camavinga—to cover the gaps.
If this backfires, France gets exposed on the counter. We saw a glimpse of it in the 2-2 draw against Iceland in October 2025. They looked vulnerable when the transition wasn't perfect.
What to Watch For Next
The road to the trophy starts long before the first whistle in North America. To stay ahead of the curve on the French squad for World Cup developments, keep an eye on these specific indicators:
- The March Friendlies: France is scheduled to play Brazil and Colombia. This is the final "audition." If a player isn't in this squad, they are 95% out of the World Cup.
- Mbappé’s Goal Count: He needs three goals to pass Giroud. If he gets them in March, the "distraction" is gone. If he doesn't, the media circus will follow him into the tournament.
- The Fitness of Christopher Nkunku: Now at AC Milan, he’s the wild card. When fit, he’s arguably their best creator, but he’s struggled to stay on the pitch. If he’s healthy, the French attack becomes 10x more unpredictable.
France is currently the 8/1 favorite alongside Brazil, trailing only Spain and England. But as any French fan will tell you, the biggest enemy of Les Bleus is usually the locker room itself. With Deschamps on his way out, the "togetherness" he’s built over 14 years will be tested like never before.
Check the injury reports for the Paris Saint-Germain and Real Madrid cohorts specifically, as they form the spine of the 2026 roster. Any long-term absence there fundamentally changes how France will line up in Group I.