Didier Deschamps has finalized France’s 26-player roster for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, and the list comes with a few major surprises. Eduardo Camavinga and Lucas Chevalier are the most eye-catching omissions, while France still arrives in North America with one of the deepest squads in the field.
Two headline absences stand out
Camavinga misses out after a frustrating season at Real Madrid. The midfielder spent much of the campaign dealing with injuries and limited playing time, which made it harder for him to force his way into the final group.
Deschamps pointed to both form and squad balance when explaining the decision. He also acknowledged that the call would sting for a player who has been involved with the national team for years despite still being relatively young.
“Sporting performance is the main criterion,” Deschamps said. “He had a difficult season where he played less. He also dealt with injuries.”
Chevalier loses ground, Risser gets his chance
Chevalier is another unexpected exclusion. After losing his place at Paris Saint-Germain and going months without regular action, he was overtaken in the pecking order. Deschamps made it clear that lack of recent minutes carried real weight in the selection process.
Robin Risser is the major winner in goal. The Lens keeper earns his first senior call-up after a breakout year and now joins Mike Maignan and Brice Samba as part of the goalkeeping group.
- Mike Maignan remains the clear first choice.
- Brice Samba provides experienced backup.
- Robin Risser arrives as the fresh option.
France’s attack looks stacked
Even with a few omissions, France’s attacking depth is hard to miss. Kylian Mbappé leads the line, and he is joined by Ballon d’Or winner Ousmane Dembélé, plus a wave of creative options who give Deschamps flexibility in almost every match state.
Among the forwards selected, Jean-Philippe Mateta makes the squad ahead of Randal Kolo Muani, another notable call. Florian Thauvin is also left out despite being one of Ligue 1’s standout names this season.
| Area | Key names | Notable note |
|---|---|---|
| Goalkeepers | Maignan, Samba, Risser | Risser earns first call-up |
| Defense | Saliba, Upamecano, Konaté, Koundé | Strong mix of power and pace |
| Midfield | Tchouaméni, Rabiot, Kanté, Zaïre-Emery | Experience and control |
| Attack | Mbappé, Dembélé, Olise, Cherki, Doué | Plenty of scoring options |
Deschamps is thinking big, but not loudly
The France coach says ambition is important, but he is not interested in empty confidence. His message is that France belongs in the group of real contenders, yet the path to the trophy remains narrow and demanding.
That mindset fits a team that has learned how hard World Cup runs can be. France reached the final in 2022 and finished runners-up, and they will enter this tournament knowing that reputation alone will not win matches.
A final tournament for a long reign
This will be Deschamps’ last World Cup in charge of France. He has already confirmed that he will step down after the competition, closing a spell that began in 2012 and delivered the 2018 title as well as another final appearance four years ago.
Zinedine Zidane is widely viewed as the favorite to replace him, though nothing is official yet. For now, Deschamps is focused on one last campaign with a squad built to challenge anyone.
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
Group stage outlook
France has been placed in Group I and will face Senegal, Iraq, and Norway. On paper, the group is manageable, but the real test will be how quickly the squad settles and how well Deschamps manages the balance between proven stars and emerging talent.