Painful absences and new faces in the France squad for the 2026 World Cup | sports

On Thursday, France coach Didier Deschamps announced his list of 26 players to participate in the 2026 FIFA World Cup, led by Real Madrid’s Spanish star Kylian Mbappé and Ballon d’Or winner Ousmane Dembélé.

Deschamps, who led France to win the World Cup in 2018 and will leave his position after the 2026 edition, included a list that was largely devoid of surprises, making it his last squad with the “Blues” in a major tournament.

Mbappe is likely to carry the captaincy despite the thigh injury he suffered last month, which kept him out of important matches with Real Madrid at the end of the Spanish League.

But the 27-year-old star will be part of France’s delegation to North America, in a brilliant offensive line that also includes Ballon d’Or winner Dembélé, Paris Saint-Germain’s player, the latter’s teammate Desiree Doue, and Bayern Munich’s German winger Michael Oliset.

Rayan Sharqi will participate in his first participation in the World Cup, after the 22-year-old playmaker lived a distinguished first season with Manchester City, while Arsenal defender William Saliba will provide defensive solidity to his country’s national team.

Full-back Lucas Hernandez and midfielder N’Golo Kante, along with Mbappe and Dembele, are the only players remaining from Deschamps’ squad that won the world title eight years ago in Russia.

Lens goalkeeper Robin Risser is the only player on the list who has never represented the national team.

Painful absences from the France squad

Deschamps told the French channel TF1: “It is a list. It is not necessarily the best 26 players. It is a matter of balance and how the team is cohesive.”

Among the most notable absentees are Real Madrid midfielder Eduardo Camavinga, and Paris Saint-Germain goalkeeper Luca Chevalier, who has become the second choice at the Parc des Princes since his prominent transfer from Lille last summer.

“I can imagine how disappointed he (Camavinga) is,” Deschamps said. “He went through a difficult season in which he did not participate much and suffered injuries. But I have decisions to make and a roster to form.”

Liverpool’s English striker, Ugo Eketeke, will also be absent from the list after he suffered an Achilles tendon injury that ended his season in April.

“This has been part of my life for 14 years,” Deschamps said about announcing France’s seventh and final roster for a major international tournament. “But if people are worried, I am not retiring. I will have my own life. The World Cup is the most important.”

France national team list for the 2026 World Cup:

• Goalkeeping: Mike Maignan (Milan), Robin Risier (Lens), Brice Samba (Rennes).
• Defense line: Lucas Digne (Aston Villa), Malu Gusto (Chelsea), Lucas Hernandez (Paris Saint-Germain), Theo Hernandez (Al Hilal), Ibrahim Konate (Liverpool), Maxence Lacroix (Crystal Palace), Jules Kunde (Barcelona), William Saliba (Arsenal), Dao Upamecano (Bayern Munich).
• Midfield: N’Golo Kante (Fenerbahce, Turkey), Manu Kone (Roma), Adrien Rabiot (AC Milan), Aurelien Chouamini (Real Madrid), Warren Zaire-Emery (Paris Saint-Germain).
• Offensive line: Magness Achilles (Monaco), Bradley Barkola (Paris Saint-Germain), Rayan Cherki (Manchester City), Ousmane Dembélé, Desiree Doué (Paris Saint-Germain), Mikael Oliseh (Bayern Munich), Kylian Mbappe (Real Madrid), Jean-Philippe Mateta (Crystal Palace), Marcus Thuram (Inter Milan).