Reigning Ballon d’Or winner Ousmane Dembele and Real Madrid superstar Kylian Mbappe headline the French squad set to feature in the FIFA World Cup 2026. On Thursday (May 14), France National team head coach Didier Deschamps unveiled the final squad for the mega event, slated to be hosted in the USA, Canada and Mexico from June 12. France, who lifted the 2018 World Cup under Deschamps and finished as the runners-up in the following edition, are no doubt favourites to win the competition this year.
Considering their star-studded setup, Deschamps might have found it hard to finalise a 26-man squad. Justifying his choices, the French manager said, “It’s a squad. Not necessarily the 26 best players. It’s about balance and how the team comes together.”
7 Premier League Players Called Up to France World Cup 2026 Squad
English football has lived up to its reputation as seven players from the top flight have been included in the France World Cup squad. Lucas Hernandez and N’golo Kante, who were part of the 2018 winning team, have retained their places. Manchester City’s Ryan Cherki and Arsenal’s William Saliba are also on the 26-man list, thanks to their impressive performances this season. However, Liverpool frontman Hugo Ekitike remains out, quite expectedly, due to his recent struggle with an Achilles injury.
Several Big Names Miss Out on Deschamps’ Squad
The France head coach has made some surprising calls, ignoring players who have consistently competed in Europe’s top five leagues. One of the shocking absentees is Real Madrid midfielder Eduardo Camavinga, who featured in the 2022 competition. Another World Cup runner-up, Randal Kolo Muani, also sits out after a dismal season with Tottenham Hotspur. PSG goalkeeper Lucas Chevalier is also out, making way for uncapped Lens goalkeeper Robin Risser alongside Brice Samba and Mike Maignan.
France World Cup Squad 2026: Full 26-Man List
| Position | Players |
|---|---|
| Goalkeepers | Mike Maignan, Robin Risser, Brice Samba |
| Defenders | Lucas Digne, Malo Gusto, Lucas Hernandez, Theo Hernandez, Ibrahima Konate, Maxence Lacroix, Jules Kounde, William Saliba, Dayot Upamecano |
| Midfielders | N’Golo Kante, Manu Kone, Adrien Rabiot, Aurelien Tchouameni, Warren Zaire-Emery |
| Forwards | Maghnes Akliouche, Bradley Barcola, Rayan Cherki, Ousmane Dembele, Desire Doue, Michael Olise, Kylian Mbappe, Jean-Philippe Mateta, Marcus Thuram |
