France World Cup 2026 Squad: The Full 26-Player List
Deschamps named three goalkeepers, nine defenders, five midfielders and nine attackers for the expanded 48-team tournament. Mike Maignan, Robin Risser and Brice Samba provide the goalkeeping options for France in North America. Maignan brings established international experience between the posts for AC Milan. Risser offers emerging talent from the French league setup. Samba provides additional depth with his club form in European competition.
Lucas Digne, Malo Gusto, Lucas Hernandez, Theo Hernandez, Ibrahima Konate, Maxence Lacroix, Jules Kounde, William Saliba and Dayot Upamecano form the defensive unit. The Hernandez brothers provide versatility at fullback positions with both defensive solidity and attacking overlap. Saliba and Kounde offer a modern central partnership capable of playing out from the back. Konate, Lacroix and Upamecano add further steel, aerial presence and recovery pace to the backline options.
N’Golo Kante, Manu Kone, Adrien Rabiot, Aurelien Tchouameni and Warren Zaire-Emery anchor the midfield engine room with a blend of destructive tackling and progressive passing. Maghnes Akliouche, Bradley Barcola, Rayan Cherki, Ousmane Dembele, Desire Doue, Michael Olise, Kylian Mbappe, Jean-Philippe Mateta and Marcus Thuram provide the attacking firepower. This forward line combines electric pace, trickery, set-piece expertise and clinical finishing ability across multiple positions in Deschamps’ comprehensive 26-man selection.
Key Players Kenya Fans Should Watch
Kylian Mbappe leads the attacking threats as France’s most recognizable star heading into the 2026 tournament. The forward carries the primary goal-scoring burden for Les Bleus with his explosive acceleration and clinical finishing in high-pressure moments. Kenya supporters can expect Mbappe to feature prominently in the final third against Group I opposition while utilizing his experience from previous World Cup campaigns.
Ousmane Dembele, Michael Olise and Desire Doue offer width and creativity on both flanks throughout the competition. Dembele provides elite dribbling ability and delivery from the right wing, while Olise and Doue bring left-footed balance, inverted wing play and set-piece expertise. These three players give Deschamps tactical flexibility to rotate fresh legs or deploy simultaneous wide threats against the defensive blocks of Iraq, Norway and Senegal.
William Saliba and Jules Kounde form the defensive cornerstone with their composure under pressure and distribution from the back. N’Golo Kante returns to the international stage alongside Aurelien Tchouameni to provide a formidable defensive midfield screen. This combination of defensive stability and midfield protection will prove crucial in managing the physical demands of the 104-match tournament format and navigating potential knockout rounds.
Group I Path and Where to Follow Fixtures
France will navigate Group I alongside Iraq, Norway and Senegal during the opening phase of the 48-team competition hosted across Canada, Mexico and the United States. The top two finishers from this four-nation section will advance to the Round of 32 under the new 12-group format introduced for the expanded tournament. France enters as the seeded team but faces a diverse range of opponents including European opposition in Norway and African qualifiers Senegal, requiring adaptability across different tactical approaches.
Readers can monitor France’s progress through the Group I fixtures and standings page for updated results and table positions throughout June and July 2026. The dedicated page will track all matches involving Les Bleus as well as the other three teams in the section. Regular updates will show which sides secure qualification for the knockout phase and France’s final positioning within the group.
The full World Cup 2026 schedule in Kenya Time lists exact kickoff times in East Africa Time for all three France group matches and potential Round of 32 fixtures. The Pulser FIFA World Cup hub provides additional navigation to all 104 match pages and comprehensive tournament analysis relevant to Kenyan football fans planning their viewing schedule in EAT.
France’s full match information
👉World Cup 2026 Group I: Teams, Fixtures & Kenya Time
👉2026 FIFA Prediction: France vs Senegal
👉2026 FIFA Prediction: France vs Iraq
👉2026 FIFA Prediction: Norway vs France
FAQ
Which players did Didier Deschamps select for France’s World Cup 2026 squad?
Deschamps selected 26 players including goalkeepers Mike Maignan, Robin Risser and Brice Samba; defenders such as Lucas Hernandez, Theo Hernandez and William Saliba; midfielders N’Golo Kante and Aurelien Tchouameni; and forwards Kylian Mbappe, Ousmane Dembele, Michael Olise and Desire Doue.
Who will France face in Group I at the 2026 World Cup?
France will play against Iraq, Norway and Senegal in Group I. The matches will take place during the group stage of the 48-team tournament hosted across Canada, Mexico and the United States.
What time will France matches start in Kenya?
Exact kickoff times in East Africa Time have not yet been confirmed. Check the Pulser full schedule page for updated fixtures in EAT once FIFA announces the definitive match schedule.