[World Cup 2026] France National Team Latest News | Deschamps Era Last Dance, Mbappé & 2025 Ballon d'Or Winner Dembélé, Predicted Lineup, Friendly Results
France enters the final year of the Deschamps era. Get the latest on Les Bleus, featuring Mbappé and 2025 Ballon d'Or winner Dembélé — covering their qualification journey, friendly matches, players to watch, and predicted starting lineup.
Boasting Mbappé and 2025 Ballon d'Or winner Dembélé, France enter the final year of the Deschamps era. The reigning 2018 champions and 2022 runners-up are drawn in Group I against Senegal, Iraq, and Norway. Everything you need to know about Les Bleus — qualifying campaign, friendlies, players to watch, and predicted starting XI — is covered here.
info Basic Information
- FIFA Ranking: 1st (as of 2026-04-01)
- Manager: Didier Deschamps (appointed July 2012 / expected to step down after the 2026 tournament)
- Nickname: Les Bleus (The Blues)
- Group: Group I (Senegal / Iraq / Norway)
- World Cup record: 16 appearances · 2 titles (1998 / 2018) · 2 runner-up finishes (2006 / 2022)
local_fire_department The Final Year of the Deschamps Era — 14 Years of Legacy and the Quest for a Third Crown
Didier Deschamps took charge of Les Bleus in July 2012, and over 14 years at the helm he delivered the 2018 World Cup title, a 2022 World Cup runner-up finish, a UEFA Euro 2016 runner-up finish, and a UEFA Nations League title. He has stated clearly that he will not extend his contract, making the 2026 tournament his final chapter as manager.
- Defending champions winning back-to-back titles — something the 1998 Zidane generation achieved — remains unaccomplished in the modern era, making it a tantalising dream
- France won the title in 1998 and 2018, exactly 20 years apart; can they seize the opportunity again on an "8-year cycle" in 2026?
- The squad depth is among the best of all 48 competing nations, with more than ten world-class options across the forward and midfield lines
- A win over Brazil on 26 March and a comfortable victory over Colombia on 29 March signal that the team is in excellent shape ahead of the tournament
How will Deschamps deploy what many are calling the greatest France squad in history as the crowning achievement of his managerial career?
sports_soccer WC 2026 Qualifying Campaign (UEFA Group D)
France topped UEFA Group D and became the second European side to secure their place at the finals.
- vs Ukraine: 4–0 (Mbappé 2 goals)
- vs Iceland: 2–2 (their only dropped points)
- vs Azerbaijan: 3–0
- Consistent scoring across several other matches
Outcome: Finished top of Group D and qualified for the finals. Mbappé-led attack maintained a high level of performance throughout qualifying.
calendar_month Recent International Friendly Results (March 2026)
France 2–1 Brazil (26 March)
France defeated the South American giants in a marquee friendly. Mbappé opened the scoring with a stunning chip, and Hugo Ekitike (Liverpool) added a second. Playing for a spell with ten men, France still held on to win, demonstrating their resilience and passing a crucial pre-tournament test with flying colours.
France 3–1 Colombia (29 March / Northwest Stadium)
Désiré Doué (PSG) scored twice, including his first international goal, with Marcus Thuram (Inter) also on the scoresheet in a comfortable win. Mbappé, returning from a knee injury, came on in the 78th minute and went in search of his 56th international goal — just one short of Olivier Giroud's all-time France record of 57 — but a stoppage-time effort was ruled offside. The match was a powerful reminder of France's extraordinary squad depth.
star Key Players' Club Form (2025–26 Season)
Kylian Mbappé (Real Madrid / FW · Captain)
Continuing to evolve at Real Madrid. He missed three weeks with a knee injury but returned to international duty in March. With 56 France goals to his name, he is just one away from surpassing Giroud's record of 57. The belief that "a fit Mbappé makes France the number-one title contender" remains unshaken.
Ousmane Dembélé (Paris Saint-Germain / FW)
2025 Ballon d'Or winner. He played a key role in PSG's Champions League and Ligue 1 double, posting a remarkable 33 goals and 15 assists in 49 appearances the previous season. In 2025–26 he has already contributed 10 league goals and 6 assists, maintaining his blistering form. His dribbling, pace, and finishing are among the best in the world.
Michael Olise (Bayern Munich / RW · AM)
After joining Bayern Munich from Crystal Palace in the summer of 2024, he has settled completely into the Bundesliga. Dominant on the right side with his technique and shooting accuracy, he is one of the three key players in France's front line alongside Mbappé and Dembélé.
Désiré Doué (PSG / MF · FW)
A 20-year-old superstar in the making. He has experience scoring twice in a Champions League final with PSG, and in the March friendly against Colombia he netted twice, including his first international goal. He has emerged rapidly as a symbol of France's generational transition.
Marcus Thuram (Inter / FW)
Son of 1998 World Cup winner Lilian Thuram. A reliable scorer at Inter, his versatility as a number nine or in a two-striker system is a major asset. He also got on the scoresheet in the March friendly against Colombia.
Aurélien Tchouaméni (Real Madrid / MF)
The anchor of the double pivot in a 4-2-3-1. His defensive intensity, aerial ability, and composure in build-up play make him the undisputed benchmark in central midfield at a young age. A key figure for Real Madrid as well.
Eduardo Camavinga (Real Madrid / MF)
A versatile all-round midfielder who forms the double pivot alongside Tchouaméni. His large defensive and offensive cover, combined with his driving runs, make him the ideal modern midfielder. A key figure at Real Madrid.
William Saliba (Arsenal / CB)
Widely regarded as the best centre-back in the Premier League. He continues his outstanding form for Arsenal in 2025–26 and is the undisputed cornerstone of the France defence.
Ibrahima Konaté (Liverpool / CB)
Together with Saliba, their CB partnership is described as "the finest French central defensive pairing since the 2010s". Physical strength, pace, and decision-making — all at the highest level.
Jules Koundé (Barcelona / RB)
Fully converted to right-back at Barcelona, he has earned high praise for both his attacking contributions and one-on-one defending. He played a key role in helping Barcelona reclaim the La Liga title under Hansi Flick.
Theo Hernández (Al-Hilal / LB)
Moved from AC Milan to Saudi Arabia's Al-Hilal in the summer of 2025. The undisputed first choice at left-back with his outstanding attacking ability, and his performances have remained at a high level in Saudi Arabia.
Mike Maignan (AC Milan / GK)
Consistently delivering high-level performances in Serie A. He is the latest guardian in France's storied goalkeeping lineage (Barthez – Lloris – Maignan).
Hugo Ekitike (Liverpool / FW)
A 23-year-old who joined Liverpool from Eintracht Frankfurt for £95 million in July 2025. In March he received his first senior France call-up and scored the winning goal against Brazil. The key question is whether he can bring his club form to the international stage.
favorite Feature: Mbappé & Dembélé — The World's Deadliest Attacking Triangle
Mbappé — Evolving at Real Madrid, Chasing Goal No. 57
His scoring rate shows no sign of slowing since moving to Real Madrid, and his combination play with Bellingham and Vinícius Jr. has added new dimensions to his game. For France he operates as a free striker with licence to roam, and he is the frontrunner to win the tournament's Best Player award in 2026. The main concern is whether his knee injury from March will be fully healed, though he has already returned to action in both recent friendlies.
Dembélé — Where the Ballon d'Or Winner Stands Now
After years of injury setbacks at Barcelona from 2017, he exploded at PSG in 2024–25 with 33 goals and 15 assists in 49 matches, simultaneously winning the Champions League and the Ballon d'Or. In 2025–26 he is maintaining his form with 10 league goals and 6 assists. The destructive power of his dribbling combined with his clinical finishing is at the pinnacle of world football, and alongside Mbappé he forms a front line that makes for a near-impossible proposition for any opponent.
info Deschamps' Tactics and Latest Developments
- Base Formation — 4-2-3-1. The Tchouaméni + Camavinga double pivot provides defensive solidity and creates space for the attacking four ahead of them.
- Breaking from the Past — Deschamps has cast aside the image of a "defensive 4-3-3" and stated clearly that his final tournament will be played with an attacking mindset.
- Attacking Quartet — How Deschamps rotates and deploys Mbappé, Dembélé, Olise, and Doué will be one of the key storylines of the tournament.
- Golden CB Partnership — Saliba + Konaté form the best central defensive pairing of their generation.
- Concerns — Cherki's absence through injury, the choice of number nine (Thuram or Ekitike), and Theo Hernández's fitness following his move to the Middle East.
info Injury News & Concerns
- Kylian Mbappé — Missed around three weeks with a knee injury in March. He returned for the Brazil and Colombia friendlies, but staying fully fit through to June is the single biggest factor.
- Rayan Cherki (Manchester City) — Withdrew from the March squad through injury. Ekitike was called up in his place.
- Ekitike's First Call-Up — A fresh injection into the attack right before the tournament. Fine-tuning combinations is the priority.
- Theo Hernández's Fitness — Questions remain over whether moving to the Middle East (Al-Hilal) has affected his fitness levels.
menu_book Predicted Starting XI (4-2-3-1)
| Position | Player | Club |
|---|---|---|
| GK | Mike Maignan | AC Milan |
| RB | Jules Koundé | Barcelona |
| CB | William Saliba | Arsenal |
| CB | Ibrahima Konaté | Liverpool |
| LB | Theo Hernández | Al-Hilal |
| DM | Aurélien Tchouaméni | Real Madrid |
| DM | Eduardo Camavinga | Real Madrid |
| RW | Ousmane Dembélé | Paris Saint-Germain |
| AM | Désiré Doué | Paris Saint-Germain |
| LW | Michael Olise | Bayern Munich |
| ST | Kylian Mbappé | Real Madrid |
calendar_month Group I Schedule
| Date | Fixture | Kick-off (JST) | Venue |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wed 6/17 | France vs Senegal | 04:00 | MetLife Stadium (New York) |
| Tue 6/23 | France vs Iraq | 06:00 | Lincoln Financial Field (Philadelphia) |
| Sat 6/27 | Norway vs France | 04:00 | Gillette Stadium (Foxboro) |
The third match against Norway — a tough test with Haaland in their ranks — will be decisive in the race to finish top of the group. The second game against Iraq will serve as an important benchmark.
sports_soccer World Cup History
- 1998 — Host nation — Champions (beat Brazil 3–0 in the final / Zidane 2 goals)
- 2006 — Germany — Runners-up (lost to Italy on penalties / Zidane headbutt incident)
- 2018 — Russia — Champions (beat Croatia 4–2 in the final / Mbappé shines at 19)
- 2022 — Qatar — Runners-up (lost to Argentina on penalties in the final / Mbappé hat-trick)
- 16 World Cup appearances · 2 titles · 2 runner-up finishes. Reaching the final in back-to-back tournaments, France are one of the most consistently successful nations in the modern era of world football.
Summary
The final year of the Deschamps era, Mbappé and Ballon d'Or winner Dembélé, unrivalled squad depth — France are the outright favourites to win this tournament. The focus is on whether they can claim a third title on a 20-year cycle following 1998 and 2018, or become back-to-back champions for the first time as a modern defending champion. Group I (Senegal / Iraq / Norway) presents the hurdle of Haaland in the Norway fixture, but given the firepower at their disposal, progression is widely considered a formality. The real test comes in the knockout rounds — can the greatest ever Les Bleus side, blending the experience of the 2018 generation with 2025 Ballon d'Or winner Dembélé and new talents like 20-year-old Doué, deliver a third world title as the perfect send-off for Deschamps?
Sources: ESPN / FourFourTwo / Goal.com open_in_new / FFF / UEFA.com open_in_new / FIFA.com open_in_new
Last updated: 2026-04-30