Didier Deschamps has finalized his 26-player France squad for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, and the announcement immediately drew attention for the names left out as much as for those included. Eduardo Camavinga and Lucas Chevalier are the biggest surprises to miss the cut, while France still arrives in North America with a roster strong enough to fuel another serious title run.
A squad built for another deep run
France heads into the tournament with the kind of talent pool most national teams can only envy. After reaching the final in 2022 and falling just short against Argentina, Les Bleus are once again being mentioned among the leading contenders for the trophy. The World Cup will be staged across Canada, Mexico, and the United States from June 11 to July 19, 2026, and Deschamps has clearly chosen balance, experience, and current form over reputation alone.
The coach made it plain that every selection had to serve the broader structure of the team. That approach helps explain why a few recognizable names were sacrificed in favor of players who are either in better rhythm or fit the tactical profile more cleanly.
Camavinga misses out after an uneven season
Camavinga’s exclusion is the headline omission because of both his standing and his history with the national team. The Real Madrid midfielder was part of the 2022 World Cup final group and has long been viewed as one of France’s most gifted young midfielders, but this season did not give Deschamps enough confidence to include him.
His campaign was interrupted by injuries and limited minutes, leaving him short of the consistency expected at this level. Deschamps acknowledged that reality when discussing the decision, saying the midfielder had a difficult season, played less than usual, and had to be weighed against the overall balance of defenders, midfielders, and forwards. He also made clear that the disappointment is understandable, especially for a player who entered the senior setup early and still has years ahead of him.
Chevalier is left behind, Risser gets his chance
Lucas Chevalier’s omission followed a similar logic, though for a different reason. The PSG goalkeeper has not been playing regularly since losing his place to Matvei Safonov, and that lack of match action counted heavily against him. In Deschamps’ view, recent competitive minutes mattered more than name recognition.
Deschamps was blunt in explaining that sporting performance remains the primary standard. He pointed out that when Chevalier had opportunities to play, he did not fully seize them, and that absence from the pitch for several months made the decision easier to justify.
That opened the door for Robin Risser, who earns his first senior call-up after an impressive rise with Lens. The young keeper has enjoyed a breakthrough year, even earning recognition as Ligue 1’s best shot-stopper earlier in the week. Lens also benefited from one of the league’s strongest defensive records, and Risser’s form was strong enough to earn him a place alongside Mike Maignan and Brice Samba as the third goalkeeper.
A forward group with enormous firepower
If the omissions drew the early headlines, the attack is what makes this France squad so dangerous. Deschamps can call on Kylian Mbappé, Ousmane Dembélé, Désiré Doué, Michael Olise, Rayan Cherki, Maghnes Akliouche, Bradley Barcola, Marcus Thuram, and Jean-Philippe Mateta, giving the team an extraordinary range of speed, creativity, and finishing power.
Mateta’s inclusion is especially notable because it comes ahead of Randal Kolo Muani. The Crystal Palace forward has earned the reward after a strong club season, while Kolo Muani finds himself on the outside looking in despite having played a memorable role in France’s recent World Cup journey. He was a late addition four years ago, scored against Morocco in the semifinals, and came close to winning the 2022 final before France lost on penalties.
Florian Thauvin is another major omission, even after being named among the five nominees for Ligue 1’s Player of the Season. His absence underlines how competitive this squad selection has become.
Deschamps prepares for his final tournament
This World Cup will also mark the end of an era for France. Deschamps has already confirmed that he will step down after the tournament, closing a remarkable managerial chapter that began in 2012. During that span, he guided France to the 2018 World Cup title and the 2022 final, making his tenure one of the most successful in the national team’s history.
Talk around the future has already turned toward Zinedine Zidane, who is widely expected to take over once Deschamps departs. Zidane has been out of management since leaving Real Madrid after his second spell, during which he delivered three Champions League titles and two La Liga championships. For now, however, the focus stays on one last campaign under Deschamps.
France has been placed in Group I and will face Senegal, Iraq, and Norway in the opening stage. That path should still be competitive, but with this amount of quality, anything less than a long tournament run will feel like a missed opportunity.
France’s 2026 World Cup squad
Goalkeepers: Mike Maignan, Brice Samba, Robin Risser
Defenders: Lucas Digne, Malo Gusto, Lucas Hernández, Theo Hernández, Ibrahima Konaté, Jules Koundé, Maxence Lacroix, William Saliba, Dayot Upamecano
Midfielders: N’Golo Kanté, Manu Koné, Adrien Rabiot, Aurélien Tchouaméni, Warren Zaïre-Emery
Forwards: Maghnes Akliouche, Bradley Barcola, Rayan Cherki, Ousmane Dembélé, Désiré Doué, Jean-Philippe Mateta, Kylian Mbappé, Michael Olise, Marcus Thuram