Deschamps names unchanged France squad for 2026 World Cup with Mbappé to captain
Kylian Mbappé is expected to lead the side despite recovering from a thigh injury, marking the final tournament for the coach who guided France to victory in 2018.
French national team coach Didier Deschamps has announced a 26-man squad for the 2026 World Cup, which will be hosted across the United States, Canada, and Mexico. Kylian Mbappé is set to captain the side despite recovering from a thigh injury sustained during Real Madrid’s recent season. The selection is largely unchanged from previous cycles, with only Lucas Hernandez, N'Golo Kante, Mbappé, and Ousmane Dembélé remaining from the 2018 World Cup-winning squad. Rayan Cherki makes his World Cup debut following a strong debut season at Manchester City. Deschamps, who led France to victory in 2018, will step down from his role as head coach following the tournament.
The squad announcement on Thursday confirmed that Mbappé will spearhead France’s bid for World Cup glory, despite missing key matches in Real Madrid’s La Liga title run due to his thigh injury. The 27-year-old forward will be joined in the attacking line by Ballon d’Or holder Ousmane Dembélé, Paris Saint-Germain’s Desiré Doué, and Bayern Munich winger Michael Olise. This forward grouping represents a continuity of personnel from recent campaigns, with the coaching staff opting for established talent over significant overhaul.
Goalkeeper Mike Maignan of AC Milan, Robin Risser of Lens, and Brice Samba of Rennes have been selected to cover the defensive line. The backline features a mix of domestic and international experience, including Lucas Digne of Aston Villa, Malo Gusto of Chelsea, and Jules Koundé of Barcelona. Notably, Theo Hernandez has moved to Al Hilal in Saudi Arabia, while William Saliba of Arsenal is expected to provide defensive solidity. Lucas Hernandez, now with Paris Saint-Germain, remains one of the few survivors from the 2018 triumph.
In midfield, N'Golo Kante, who has joined Fenerbahce in Turkey, continues alongside Aurelien Tchouameni of Real Madrid and Adrien Rabiot of AC Milan. Warren Zaire-Emery of PSG and Manu Kone of Roma round out the central options. The inclusion of these players reflects Deschamps’ preference for experienced structures, with Kante and Hernandez being among the very few from the 2018 winning team still in the fold alongside Mbappé and Dembélé.
Rayan Cherki’s inclusion marks his World Cup debut after a sparkling season at Manchester City. He joins a forward roster that also includes Maghnes Akliouche of Monaco, Bradley Barcola of PSG, Jean-Philippe Mateta of Crystal Palace, and Marcus Thuram of Inter Milan. The departure of Hugo Lloris, Benjamin Pavard, and Paul Pogba from the roster highlights the generational shift, albeit a cautious one, as Deschamps prepares to step down after the tournament concludes in North America.
