New Delhi: France head coach Didier Deschamps announced a strong squad for the upcoming FIFA World Cup 2026 on Thursday, May 14. The 48-team tournament is set to begin on June 12 in the USA, Mexico and Canada.
He has left out Real Madrid midfielder Eduardo Camavinga, who was part of the France squad that finished runner-up in the last World Cup edition and came on as a substitute in the final defeat against Argentina. Deschamps rewarded goalkeeper Robin Risser with a call-up for the global tournament after his breakthrough season.
Risser plays for Lens in the Ligue 1 and won the award for the best goalkeeper earlier this week. He played a crucial role in making Lens the second-best defence in the French league and was selected by Deschamps as a No. 3 goalkeeper behind Mike Maignan and Brice Samba.
France are aiming to win their third World Cup title and are one the favourites of the tournament. The Didier Deschamps side has been drawn in Group I and will face Senegal, Iraq and Norway in the group stage.
The head coach has one of the best attacks of the tournament, which includes Kylian Mbappe, Ballon d’Or winner Ousmane Dembélé, Désiré Doué, Michael Olise, Rayan Cherki and Maghnes Akliouche.
Crystal Palace forward Jean-Philippe Mateta also received a call-up to the squad over Randal Kolo Muani. The Tottenham striker had been a late addition to France’s previous World Cup squad in 2022. He netted a goal against Morocco in the semifinals and came close to scoring in the final before France lost to Argentina in a penalty shootout.
It will be Deschamps’s last tournament, and he will step down from his role after the World Cup, ending a successful reign that started in 2012. Under his managerial career, France won the 2018 World Cup and reached the 2022 final. Former France legend Zinedine Zidane is expected to take over the role.
France FIFA World Cup 2026 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.