Mbappe and Dembele head up star-studded France World Cup squad | World Cup 2026 News
Kylian Mbappe will spearhead France on the World Cup as nationwide workforce coach Didier Deschamps proclaims his 26-man squad.
Published On 14 May 2026
France coach Didier Deschamps has assembled a World Cup squad with formidable attacking expertise led by Kylian Mbappe, whereas rewarding goalkeeper Robin Risser following his breakthrough season with a call-up for the showpiece event.
Deschamps, who guided France to World Cup glory in 2018 and will go away after this event, included a couple of surprises in his announcement of the 26-man squad on Thursday.
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Risser, although, who performs for Lens, has been one of many revelations of the French league season and received the award for greatest goalkeeper earlier this week. He performed an enormous function in making Lens the second-best protection in Ligue 1 and was chosen by Deschamps in a No. 3 function behind Mike Maignan and Brice Samba.
Looking to win a 3rd World Cup, the French are among the many event favorites in Canada, Mexico and the United States from June 11 – July 19.
France are in Group I taking over Senegal, Iraq and Norway throughout the group stage.
Mbappe will possible captain the workforce, regardless of a thigh harm sustained final month, which prompted him to overlook key matches in Real Madrid’s La Liga run-in.
The 27-year-old will likely be on the aircraft to North America as a part of a powerful attacking drive which incorporates Ballon d’Or winner Ousmane Dembele, rising star Desire Doue, Michael Olise, Rayan Cherki and Maghnes Akliouche.
Cherki will likely be making his World Cup debut following a powerful first season at Manchester City for the 22-year-old.
Deschamps additionally referred to as up Crystal Palace ahead Jean-Philippe Mateta, who was most popular to Randal Kolo Muani. The Tottenham striker had been a late addition to France’s earlier World Cup squad 4 years in the past. Kolo Muani scored a aim towards Morocco within the semi-finals and got here near changing into a nationwide hero within the remaining, earlier than France misplaced to Argentina in a penalty shootout.
Deschamps’s reign started in 2012 and noticed France win the 2018 World Cup and attain the 2022 remaining.
Former France nice Zinedine Zidane is anticipated to take over, though he has not been coached since ending his second spell in command of Real Madrid, main the Spanish big to 3 Champions League and two La Liga titles.
France squad for World Cup 2026:
Goalkeepers: Mike Maignan, Brice Samba, Robin Risser.
Defenders: Lucas Digne, Malo Gusto, Lucas Hernandez, Theo Hernandez, Ibrahima Konate, Jules Kounde, Maxence Lacroix, 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, Jean-Philippe Mateta, Kylian Mbappe, Michael Olise, Marcus Thuram.
