France's 2026 World Cup Squad: Deschamps' Final Chapter

Didier Deschamps has been France manager since July 2012. He won the World Cup in 2018. He took France to the 2022 final, where they lost to Argentina on penalties. He is stepping down after this tournament. It is the final chapter of a fourteen-year tenure and the squad he has named for the 2026 World Cup in North America reflects exactly the kind of ruthless, forward-thinking pragmatism that has defined his reign. Antoine Griezmann is not there. Eduardo Camavinga is not there. Nobody is safe.

What is there is depth, quality and a captain in Kylian Mbappe who goes into this tournament with something to prove and a squad capable of helping him prove it. France are one of the two or three teams most likely to lift the trophy at MetLife Stadium on 19 July. Here is the full story of who Deschamps has picked and why.

The Group Stage Draw: Group I

France are in Group I alongside Senegal, Iraq and Norway. On paper it is a straightforward group for a squad of their quality, but the presence of Erling Haaland and Norway means the final group game carries real stakes. France open against Senegal on 16 June, who are one of Africa's strongest sides led by Sadio Mane. Iraq return to the World Cup for the first time in forty years. Norway and Haaland close the group.

If France win their first two matches — which they are more than capable of — they could rotate for Norway and still qualify. If the group is tighter than expected, the Norway game becomes the most watched match of the group stage.

The Full France 2026 World Cup Squad

Goalkeepers

Mike Maignan (AC Milan) — France's undisputed number one and one of the best goalkeepers in the world. His shot-stopping, his command of the area and his ability with the ball at his feet fit perfectly into Deschamps' system. A summer without Maignan is unthinkable for France.

Brice Samba (Rennes) — Experienced backup who has been a consistent Ligue 1 performer.

Robin Risser (Lens) — Third-choice goalkeeper representing the next generation of French goalkeeping talent.

Defenders

William Saliba (Arsenal) — One of the best centre-backs in the Premier League and a player who has been outstanding for Arsenal in their recent title-winning seasons. His composure, his reading of the game and his ability to carry the ball out from the back make him central to how France want to build. Should be an automatic starter alongside Upamecano.

Dayot Upamecano (Bayern Munich) — The powerful central defensive partner to Saliba. Physical, aggressive and capable of covering ground quickly. His partnership with Saliba gives France one of the best defensive pairings in the tournament.

Ibrahima Konaté (Liverpool) — One of the most improved defenders in Europe over the past two seasons. His development alongside Virgil Van Dijk at Anfield has been extraordinary and he brings an athleticism and aerial dominance that gives France another option at centre-back.

Jules Koundé (Barcelona) — Arguably the finest right-back in world football and a player whose technical quality and ability to contribute in the attacking phases make him one of the most complete defenders in the squad. A guaranteed starter.

Theo Hernandez (Al-Hilal) — France's first-choice left-back and a player whose attacking instincts and pace down the left flank have been central to how Deschamps has set up the team in recent tournaments. Direct, physically imposing and capable of scoring important goals.

Lucas Hernandez (PSG) — Defensive cover and an experienced international whose reading of the game gives France a calm, reliable option.

Malo Gusto (Chelsea) — A young right-back option who provides depth behind Koundé and who has impressed at Premier League level.

Lucas Digne (Aston Villa) — Experienced left-back cover with consistent Premier League form.

Maxence Lacroix (Crystal Palace) — Additional central defensive depth in a well-stocked defensive unit.

Midfielders

N'Golo Kanté (Fenerbahce) — At 35, Kanté is one of the senior figures in this France squad and a player whose World Cup winning experience from 2018 is invaluable in the dressing room. His engine, his ability to win the ball in tight spaces and his reliability in the biggest matches make him a genuine asset even at this stage of his career. Deschamps clearly trusts him to deliver when the tournament reaches its most critical moments.

Aurélien Tchouaméni (Real Madrid) — The midfielder whose missed penalty in the 2022 shootout against Argentina will drive him through this tournament. Tchouaméni is one of the best defensive midfielders in La Liga and gives France a physically dominant, technically accomplished presence in the engine room. He goes into this summer with something to settle.

Adrien Rabiot (AC Milan) — An experienced international with the physical quality to cover significant ground and contribute in both defensive and attacking phases. His experience at the highest level gives Deschamps a reliable option.

Warren Zaïre-Emery (PSG) — One of the most exciting young midfielders in world football. The PSG teenager has the technical quality and the composure to contribute at international level despite his age and goes into this tournament as one of the players to watch among the younger generation of French players.

Manu Koné (Roma) — A powerful midfield option who brings physicality and an ability to break up play and drive forward from deep positions.

Forwards

Kylian Mbappe (Real Madrid) — The captain. France's most important player. His third World Cup at 27 years old, going into it with 12 World Cup goals — just four short of Miroslav Klose's all-time record of 16. He became a World Cup winner in 2018 at 19. He scored a hat-trick in the 2022 final and still finished on the losing side. This tournament is where he settles that account. If France win, Mbappe will be the reason. Everything in Deschamps' attacking system is built around enabling him.

Ousmane Dembélé (PSG) — The reigning Ballon d'Or winner, having played an inspirational role in PSG's Champions League triumph. Dembele is at the absolute peak of his powers going into this World Cup — direct, technically brilliant and impossible to handle in one-versus-one situations on the right flank. He wears the number 7 shirt, previously worn by the retired Griezmann, which tells you everything about how Deschamps views his importance.

Michael Olise (Bayern Munich) — One of the most exciting wingers in European football. Olise was born in London but represents France internationally and goes into the 2026 World Cup as a Ballon d'Or contender after outstanding performances at Bayern Munich. His technical quality, his pace and his finishing make him a genuinely difficult player for any defensive system to handle.

Marcus Thuram (Inter Milan) — A powerful, direct forward who can play across the front line and whose athleticism and pressing give France a different dimension in their attack. His form for Inter Milan has been consistently impressive.

Bradley Barcola (PSG) — The PSG winger who has developed into one of Ligue 1's most consistent performers. His pace and directness give Deschamps another option on the left flank.

Désiré Doué (PSG) — At 21, one of the freshest talents in the squad. Won Olympic silver with France at Paris 2024 and has continued to develop impressively at PSG.

Rayan Cherki — Another member of the exciting young generation of French forwards, bringing creativity and unpredictability off the bench.

Jean-Philippe Mateta — A powerful physical presence in the forward line who gives Deschamps a different tactical option when the situation demands directness and aerial threat.

Maghnes Akliouche (Monaco) — The Monaco forward provides additional attacking depth and an option from wide positions.

The Big Omissions

Antoine Griezmann retired from international football after Euro 2024 and will not be reversing that decision. His absence leaves a significant creative void — he was one of France's most important players at the 2022 World Cup, contributing goals and assists deep into the tournament. Eduardo Camavinga has paid the price for a difficult season at Real Madrid, with Deschamps cutting him despite his Champions League pedigree. Randal Kolo Muani, currently on loan at Tottenham from PSG, is another whose difficult club form has cost him a place. Liverpool's Hugo Ekitike was ruled out by a season-ending Achilles injury in April.

Deschamps' Farewell and France's Chance

Didier Deschamps is one of only three men to have won the World Cup as both a player and a manager — lifting the trophy as France's captain in 1998 and as their coach in 2018. His 2026 squad is the deepest he has ever assembled. The attack is frightening. The defence is among the best in the tournament. The midfield has experience and youth in equal measure.

This is his last tournament. He has said he will not extend his contract beyond 2026. The motivation to send himself off with the trophy is enormous. France go into the 2026 World Cup as one of the two or three genuine favourites to lift the trophy at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey. This squad gives them everything they need to do it.

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