France unveiled a talent-packed squad for the upcoming World Cup on Thursday, although there was one key name missing from Didier Deschamps’ final selection – Real Madrid midfielder Eduardo Camavinga. Ranked No. 1 in the latest FIFA Men’s World Rankings, France enter the tournament as one of the strongest contenders.

FIFA World Cup 2026 coverage

Captain Kylian Mbappe headlines the team alongside attacking stars Ousmane Dembele and Michael Olise. The midfield will feature Aurelien Tchoumeni and the experienced N’Golo Kante, while the defense consists of William Saliba, Jules Kounde and Theo Hernandez. Mike Maignan will serve as the team’s first-choice goalkeeper.

Despite being part of France’s runner-up squad at the 2022 World Cup and featuring in March international fixtures, Camavinga failed to make the final 26-man list. At club level, he has recently fallen behind Thiago Pitarch in Real Madrid’s midfield pecking order.

“He had a difficult season where he played less. He also had injuries,” Deschamps was quoted as saying by Reuters. “It is true that he is a player who came to us very early. He is still a young player.

“Because I also have options to build the team structure, there should be equality between defenders, midfielders and forwards. But I understand and I imagine their huge disappointment this evening.”

Deschamps chose Brice Samba and Robin Risser as Maignan’s students, the latter gaining recognition after an impressive Ligue 1 campaign. His inclusion meant there was no room for Lucas Chevalier, who lost his starting role at Paris Saint-Germain to Matvei Safonov earlier this year.

Before heading to their World Cup training base in Boston, France are scheduled to play warm-up matches against Ivory Coast and Northern Ireland. Their Group I campaign begins against Senegal on June 16, followed by matches against Iraq on June 22 and Norway on June 26.

Other high-profile omissions include Tottenham forward Randal Kolo Muani and Rennes striker Esteban Lepaul, who finished as Ligue 1’s top scorer this season. Meanwhile, Jean-Philippe Mateta was recalled despite missing the March friendlies while recovering from a knee injury. He is expected to help cover for the absence of Hugo Ekitike, who has been ruled out with a ruptured Achilles tendon.

The tournament is also expected to mark Deschamps’ final World Cup in charge of France. The manager led Les Bleus to World Cup glory in 2018 and is widely tipped to hand over the reins to French icon Zinedine Zidane after the competition. France had previously won the trophy on home soil in 1998.

france world cup 2026 squad

Goalkeepers: Mike Maignan, Robin Reiser, Bryce Samba

Defenders: Malo Gusteau, Maxence Lacroix, Jules Kounde, Lucas Digne, Ibrahima Konate, William Saliba, Dayot Upamecano, Lucas Hernandez, Theo Hernandez

Midfielders: Aurelien Tchoumeni, Adrien Rabiot, N’Golo Kante, Manu Kone, Warren Zaire-Emery

Forwards: Ousmane Dembele, Bradley Barcola, Jean-Philippe Mateta, Ryan Cherki, Marcus Thuram, Magnus Akliuche, Desire Dou, Kylian Mbappé, Michael Olise.

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