Didier Deschamps announced France's 26-man squad for the 2026 World Cup, putting Kylian Mbappe and Ousmane Dembele at the head of an attack-heavy group that mixes established stars and newer faces.
The roster contains three goalkeepers, eight defenders, five midfielders and nine forwards. Mbappe arrives at the tournament on 56 international goals, two shy of becoming France's all-time leading men's scorer, while Dembele comes off a season in which he scored 35 goals, won the Champions League with Paris Saint-Germain and picked up the Ballon d'Or — achievements that leave him one of the clearest attacking threats on the roster.
This squad includes veteran midfield presence N'Golo Kante and defensive options such as Jules Kounde, who was called up for his second World Cup after reaching the final with France in 2022 and featuring 46 times for Barcelona this season under Hansi Flick. Kounde started four of France's five World Cup qualifiers and was in the national team squads for the 2021 and 2024 European Championships.
Young full-back Malo Gusto earns a place among the defenders after establishing himself over the past 18 months; he made 47 appearances for Chelsea this season in all competitions and has accumulated nine caps for France, including five appearances during World Cup qualifying. The squad also contains an uncapped option in goal, Robin Risser, underscoring Deschamps's willingness to mix experience and potential.
France topped its qualifying group ahead of Ukraine, Iceland and Azerbaijan, a run in which Kounde and Gusto played regular parts. The team will open its World Cup campaign in New Jersey on 16 June against Senegal, then face Iraq on 22 June and Norway on 26 June — a schedule that tests attacking depth early and hands immediate responsibility to the forward line.
The selections carry built-in tensions. There is no place in the squad for Eduardo Camavinga, Randal Kolo Muani or Lucas Chevalier, and those omissions will be read as significant. Deschamps framed his choices around balance rather than simply picking the 26 objectively best players, saying the list was designed to form a coherent team rather than compile top names. He also acknowledged how disappointed players left out must feel, noting he understood their frustration even as he insisted he had to make difficult decisions to shape a squad.
Kante's inclusion recalls his role in France's 2018 World Cup win, and his presence contrasts with the decision to bypass several other recognizable midfield options; that contrast is part of the selection's underlying friction. The manager has backed raw output and recent form up front, backing the pairing of Mbappe and Dembele to carry France's goalscoring burden while trusting a defense that mixes seasoned internationals and in-form club performers.
What matters next is measurable: France's balance will be tested on 16 June in New Jersey against Senegal, and Mbappe's chase for the top scoring mark looms as a personal subplot to the team's opening fixtures. Deschamps has chosen a squad that prioritizes immediate attacking firepower and a blend of youth and experience; whether that balance is enough will be decided on the field when France plays its first match of the 2026 World Cup.
