France World Cup Squad 2026: Full 26-Player Roster
The France World Cup Squad 2026 was one of the deepest at the tournament, and Les Bleus proved it by reaching the semifinals. Didier Deschamps named his 26 man roster on May 14, 2026, with Kylian Mbappé captaining the side at his third World Cup.
France won their first six matches before losing 2-0 to Spain in the semifinal, and now play the third place match on July 18.
France arrived ranked third in the world with a squad averaging 26.6 years, built around seven Premier League players and five from Paris Saint-Germain. Deschamps left out Eduardo Camavinga despite his Real Madrid pedigree, while Hugo Ekitike missed selection through a long term Achilles injury.
This is also Deschamps’ final tournament, as he will not extend his 14 year contract beyond 2026.
France World Cup Squad 2026: Full 26 Player Roster
| Position | Player | Club | Age |
|---|---|---|---|
| GK | Mike Maignan | AC Milan | 30 |
| GK | Brice Samba | Rennes | 32 |
| GK | Robin Risser | Lens | 21 |
| DF | Lucas Digne | Aston Villa | 32 |
| DF | Malo Gusto | Chelsea | 23 |
| DF | Lucas Hernandez | Paris Saint-Germain | 30 |
| DF | Theo Hernandez | Al-Hilal | 28 |
| DF | Ibrahima Konaté | Liverpool | 27 |
| DF | Jules Koundé | Barcelona | 27 |
| DF | Maxence Lacroix | Crystal Palace | 26 |
| DF | William Saliba | Arsenal | 25 |
| DF | Dayot Upamecano | Bayern Munich | 27 |
| MF | N’Golo Kanté | Fenerbahçe | 35 |
| MF | Manu Koné | AS Roma | 25 |
| MF | Adrien Rabiot | AC Milan | 31 |
| MF | Aurélien Tchouaméni | Real Madrid | 26 |
| MF | Warren Zaïre-Emery | Paris Saint-Germain | 20 |
| FW | Maghnes Akliouche | Monaco | 24 |
| FW | Bradley Barcola | Paris Saint-Germain | 23 |
| FW | Rayan Cherki | Manchester City | 22 |
| FW | Ousmane Dembélé | Paris Saint-Germain | 29 |
| FW | Désiré Doué | Paris Saint-Germain | 21 |
| FW | Jean-Philippe Mateta | Crystal Palace | 28 |
| FW | Kylian Mbappé (C) | Real Madrid | 27 |
| FW | Michael Olise | Bayern Munich | 24 |
| FW | Marcus Thuram | Inter Milan | 28 |
(C) = captain. Ages as of June 11, 2026. Squad confirmed May 14, 2026.
For all 48 team announcement dates, see our World Cup 2026 squads tracker.
Squad Quick Stats
- Average age: 26.6 years
- Captain: Kylian Mbappé (third World Cup)
- Talisman: Kylian Mbappé, France’s all time top scorer with eight goals at this World Cup
- Premier League players: 7 (Saliba, Konaté, Gusto, Digne, Lacroix, Mateta, Cherki)
- PSG players: 5 (Dembélé, Barcola, Doué, Zaïre-Emery, L. Hernandez)
- Youngest: Warren Zaïre-Emery (20) | Oldest: N’Golo Kanté (35)
France World Cup Squad 2026 Schedule and Results
France were the standout team of Group I, winning all three matches, scoring 10 goals and conceding two. Mbappé opened with a brace against Senegal, a win over Iraq followed with two more Mbappé goals, and France closed the group by beating Norway, a game in which Ousmane Dembélé struck a first half hat trick, the first at a World Cup since 1994.
In the knockouts, France brushed Sweden aside 3-0, edged Paraguay 1-0 and beat Morocco 2-0 to reach a third successive World Cup semifinal. There the run ended, Spain winning 2-0 through a Mikel Oyarzabal penalty and a Pedro Porro strike for France’s first loss of the tournament.
Les Bleus now meet the loser of England vs Argentina in the third place match on July 18. Kickoff times below are listed in Eastern Time (ET) and Central European Summer Time (CEST).
| Date | Round | Opponent | Venue | Kickoff (ET) | Kickoff (CEST) | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 16 June 2026 | Group I | Senegal | New York New Jersey Stadium, East Rutherford | 3:00 PM | 9:00 PM | France 3, Senegal 1 |
| 22 June 2026 | Group I | Iraq | Philadelphia Stadium, Philadelphia | 5:00 PM | 11:00 PM | France 3, Iraq 0 |
| 26 June 2026 | Group I | Norway | Boston Stadium, Foxborough | 3:00 PM | 9:00 PM | France 4, Norway 1 |
| 30 June 2026 | Round of 32 | Sweden | New York New Jersey Stadium, East Rutherford | 5:00 PM | 11:00 PM | France 3, Sweden 0 |
| 4 July 2026 | Round of 16 | Paraguay | Philadelphia Stadium, Philadelphia | 5:00 PM | 11:00 PM | France 1, Paraguay 0 |
| 9 July 2026 | Quarterfinal | Morocco | Boston Stadium, Foxborough | 4:00 PM | 10:00 PM | France 2, Morocco 0 |
| 14 July 2026 | Semifinal | Spain | Dallas Stadium, Arlington | 3:00 PM | 9:00 PM | France 0, Spain 2 |
| 18 July 2026 | Third Place | England or Argentina | Miami Stadium, Miami Gardens | 5:00 PM | 11:00 PM | To be played |
Spain go through to the final in New York New Jersey, while France drop into the bronze final at Miami Stadium against the loser of the England vs Argentina semifinal. A win there would hand Deschamps a medal in his last match in charge.
Check the full World Cup 2026 schedule for every remaining fixture and kickoff time.
Key Players to Watch
Kylian Mbappé (C), Real Madrid. The 27 year old captain was well marshalled by Spain but remains France’s standout forward. He finished the semifinals with eight goals at the 2026 World Cup, among the leading scorers, and 20 in his World Cup career, second only to Lionel Messi on the all time list. He also holds the record for most World Cup knockout stage goals.
Ousmane Dembélé, Paris Saint-Germain. The 2025 Ballon d’Or winner had a tournament to remember, with five goals including a first half hat trick against Norway and the clincher against Morocco. His pace and directness from the right flank force opponents into deep, reactive defending, and Deschamps handed him the iconic number 7 shirt.
William Saliba, Arsenal. At 25, Saliba is among the best centre backs in Europe. He reads danger early and starts attacks with clean distribution. He anchored a defence that kept three successive knockout clean sheets against Sweden, Paraguay and Morocco before Spain broke through in the semifinal.
Aurélien Tchouaméni, Real Madrid. France’s midfield anchor wins the ball, covers ground and recycles possession quickly. His physicality and passing range give the forwards the freedom to attack with protection behind them.
How France Qualified for World Cup 2026
France qualified through UEFA European Qualifiers Group D, alongside Azerbaijan, Iceland and Ukraine. They finished top with five wins, one draw and no defeats, scoring 16 goals and conceding four across a campaign that ran from September to November 2025.
The only dropped points came in a 2-2 draw in Reykjavík against Iceland on October 13. France sealed their place on November 13 with a 4-0 win over Ukraine at the Parc des Princes, then closed the group with a 3-1 win in Baku.
Head Coach: Didier Deschamps
Didier Deschamps has managed France since July 2012 and is one of only three men to win the World Cup as both player and coach, lifting it as captain in 1998 and as manager in 2018.
France reached a second straight final in 2022 before losing to Argentina on penalties. He will not extend his contract beyond 2026, making the third place match the final act of a 14 year tenure.
His preferred system is a 4-3-3 that can shift into a 4-2-3-1 against stronger opponents. Deschamps prioritises defensive solidity and midfield control, trusting his forwards to do the damage once France win possession.
Group I Final Standings
France topped Group I with a perfect nine points. Norway joined them in the knockouts as runners up, and Senegal also advanced as one of the eight best third placed teams. Iraq finished bottom and were eliminated.
| Pos | Team | P | W | D | L | GF | GA | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | France | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 10 | 2 | 9 |
| 2 | Norway | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 8 | 7 | 6 |
| 3 | Senegal | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 8 | 6 | 3 |
| 4 | Iraq | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 12 | 0 |
FAQ About France World Cup Squad 2026
Who do France play in the World Cup 2026 third place match?
France face the loser of the England vs Argentina semifinal at Miami Stadium on July 18, 2026, kicking off at 5:00 PM ET. It is the bronze final, played one day before the World Cup final.
Why are France in the third place match?
France lost 2-0 to Spain in the semifinal, their first defeat of the tournament, so they play off for the bronze medal rather than the final.
How many goals has Mbappé scored at the 2026 World Cup?
Kylian Mbappé scored eight goals at the 2026 World Cup, among the tournament’s leading scorers. That takes his career World Cup tally to 20, second only to Lionel Messi, and he holds the record for most knockout stage goals.
Who is France’s captain at the 2026 World Cup?
Kylian Mbappé captains France at his third World Cup. He took the armband in March 2023 after Hugo Lloris retired from international football.
What is France’s nickname?
France are known as Les Bleus, meaning The Blues, after their traditional dark navy home kit.
France World Cup Squad 2026 Third Place Bid
France came up short against Spain, but the France World Cup Squad 2026 still delivered a strong tournament, six wins from seven with only one defeat. The goalkeeping was reliable, the defence kept three knockout clean sheets before the semifinal, and Mbappé and Dembélé drove the attack with 13 goals between them.
Now Deschamps has one match left in charge, the bronze final in Miami, to close a 14 year tenure with a medal. Win it and this young squad, one of the youngest at the finals, leaves North America with silverware and a clear platform to build on for 2030.
