France travel to North America looking to make three successive World Cup finals, and seeking a second victory during that time. Les Bleus were beaten finalists last time out but lifted the trophy in 2018.
This will be the last tournament under Didier Deschamps. Will he take the one final chance to lead this star-studded France side to another trophy?
Get all the latest France stats as the tournament unfolds plus the latest squad, manager and fixture information for the European side here.
France route to the World Cup
France cruised to top spot in qualifying Group D, where they accrued 16 points from a possible 18. They were the second European country to book their spot at the World Cup, doing so with a 4-0 thrashing of Ukraine, which extended their run of making it to every edition since missing out in 194.
Kylian Mbappe top-scored for the French with five goals, while their only ‘blip’ was a 2-2 draw away to Iceland
France World Cup 2026 fixtures
France will begin their journey at this summer’s World Cup against Senegal. The Lions of Teranga are of course the team that embarrassed them in the opening game of the 2002 tournament. That game will take place on 16th June in New Jersey.
They’ll then make the relatively short trip to Philadelphia to face Iraq on June 22nd. Les Bleus closing their Group I campaign against Uefa rivals Norway on June 26th.
READ MORE: Get the latest France World Cup 2026 outright odds here
France key players for World Cup 2026
Where to start? Didier Deschamps has an assortment of riches at his disposal. There’s a real competition for places all over the park, particularly in attack, where France boast some of the best players on the planet. Below, we run through a qartet of the country’s players who will be looking to sparkle in North America.
Kylian Mbappe
- Key stat: Kylian Mbappe has scored 12 goals in 14 World Cup matches, reaching the final in both editions he has played in.
France captain Kylian Mbappe has an incredible World Cup record. He has accumulated 15 goals involvements in 14 matches (12 goals and three assists), including a stunning hat-trick in the 2022 final.
Mbappe (12) is already within reach of the tournament’s all-time leading goalscorer, Miroslav Klose. The German has 16 goals to his name, although Lionel Messi (13) also has him within his grasp. Mbappe is just one goal behind the record French goalscorer, Just Fontaine, at World Cups and could equal Cafu’s record of playing in the most consecutive finals (three: 1994, 1998, and 2002).
Ousmane Dembele
- Key stat: Ousmane Dembele scored 35 goals and 14 assists in 53 games when winning the 2025 Ballon d’Or.
Ousmane Dembele was a worthy Ballon d’Or winner last year after a sensational campaign. In that season, he played a pivotal role in Paris Saint-Germain’s Champions League, Ligue 1 and Coupe de France triumphs.
The early part of the current season was hampered by hamstring and calf injuries. But the PSG forward will be targeting a strong end of the campaign as he looks to rediscover the dazzling form that earned him football’s most prestigious individual award.
Michael Olise
- Key stat: Michael Olise has 10 goals and 17 assists in just 24 Bundesliga games so far this season.
Michael Olise is brimming with talent and a delight to watch, combining vision, creativity, and composure on the ball. Since his move from Crystal Palace to Bayern Munich, he has propelled his game to new heights and has become one of his country’s most important players, who is poised to make a major impact in North America.
William Saliba
- Key stat: Saliba played only 27 minutes at the last World Cup but is sure to play a more prominent part in 2026.
Didier Deschamps faces a crucial decision at centre-back, with William Saliba, Ibrahima Konaté, and Dayot Upamecano all competing for the two central defensive spots. Saliba is world-class and has impressed consistently for Arsenal in recent seasons.
STAND-OUT STAT: France have scored 30 goals across the last two World Cups – that’s five more than any other team and the first time a team has scored 30 or more goals across two consecutive tournaments since Brazil in 1970 and 1974.
France set-piece specialists
- Penalties: Kylian Mbappe
- Free kicks: Michael Olise
- Corners: Michael Olise, Ousmane Dembele
France tactical analysis
By now, we know Didier Deschamps’ modus operandi at major tournaments well. He’ll look to keep things compact and structured with a defensive-minded double pivot while allowing the supreme talent of his attacking stars to shine.
And to say that this frontline is blessed with talent would be an understatement. Kylian Mbappe, a hat-trick scorer in the last World Cup final, will likely lead the line. Behind him we could see the exciting PSG duo of Desire Doue and his Ballon d’Or winning team-mate Ousmane Dembele as well as Bayern Munich’s Michael Olise, fresh from a magnificent campaign in the Bundesliga.
It’s hard to argue that this France side isn’t the strongest in the tournament to be honest. With a Mbappe’s Real Madrid teammates Aurelien Tchouameni and Eduardo Camavinga may be the preferred midfield duo, while Premier League winning centre back William Saliba will marshal the backline.
The fact that young stars like Rayan Cherki, Bradley Barcola and Warren Zaire-Emery will likely have to settle for places on the bench tells you everything about the quality of this squad. But can they put it all together again on the big stage?
Get the latest France World Cup goals, shots, tackle, assist stats are more here.
France manager analysis
Didier Deschamps has been at the helm of France since 2012, making him one of the longest-serving national team managers in the 21st century. He is one of only three men to have won the World Cup as both a player (1998) and a manager (2018), and could become only the second coach to lift the trophy twice as a manager (after Vittorio Pozzo for italy in 1934 & 1938).
Under Deschamps, France have also won the 2021 Nations League, reached the 2016 European Championship final, finished runners-up at the 2022 World Cup, and most recently were eliminated by eventual winners Spain in the Euro 2024 semi-finals.
The veteran coach brings immense experience and will be aiming to finish his France tenure on a high by leading his team to a third World Cup triumph. Deschamps is well-respected, but he often draws criticism for his pragmatic approach, with France notably struggling for goals at Euro 2024 despite their waves of attacking talent.
Looking ahead, Deschamps faces major selection headaches across the squad, with world-class depth from defence to midfield to attack.
| Coach | Team | P | W | D | L | Win % |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Didier Deschamps | France | 175 | 112 | 35 | 28 | 55.57% |
France World Cup FAQs
Have France ever won the World Cup?
France have won the World Cup on two occasions. Their first success was on home soil in 1998, then 20 years later they won for a second time in Russia 2018.
Where did France finish at the last World Cup?
France finished as runners-up to Argentina at Qatar 2022. The teams played out a thrilling 3-3 draw, before Argentina came out on top on penalties.
Who will be France captain at the World Cup?
France are captained by Real Madrid star Kylian Mbappe.
Who is France’s all-time top goalscorer at World Cups?
Just Fontaine is France’s all-time leading goalscorer at World Cups with 13 goals to his name. Kylian Mbappe, however, is hot on his heels with 12 goals.
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