France team profile – FIFA World Cup 2026
In the build-up to FIFA World Cup 2026 in USA, Canada and Mexico, we shine a spotlight on France.
FIFA World Ranking: 1
Confederation: UEFA
Who is France’s head coach for FIFA World Cup 2026?
France’s head coach for FIFA World Cup 2026 is Didier Deschamps. Having been in charge of Les Bleus since July 2012, Deschamps has led his country to World Cup glory both as captain on home soil in 1998 and as head coach in 2018.
Who is France’s captain for FIFA World Cup 2026?
France’s captain for FIFA World Cup 2026 is Kylian Mbappe, the Golden Boot winner at FIFA World Cup 2022 with eight goals, including a hat-trick in the final
How many times have France participated in a FIFA World Cup before 2026?
16 – 1930, 1934, 1938, 1954, 1958, 1966, 1978, 1982, 1986, 1998, 2002, 2006, 2010, 2014, 2018, 2022
What is France’s best performance at a FIFA World Cup?
Winners – 1998, 2018
How did France qualify for FIFA World Cup 2026?
France qualified for FIFA World Cup 2026 after finishing top of their group in the UEFA qualification stage. Teams were drawn into 12 groups with France placed in Group D alongside Ukraine, Iceland and Azerbaijan.
After six group games, France finished on 16 points with a record of five wins, one draw and no defeats, scoring 16 goals and conceding just four.
Confirmation of France’s FIFA World Cup 2026 qualification came on November 13, 2025 in the penultimate round of Group D fixtures after a 4-0 win over Ukraine in Paris. Kylian Mbappe was on the scoresheet twice whilst Michael Olise and Hugo Ekitike also found the net.
Who are France’s star players?
Kylian Mbappe (Real Madrid), is a superstar of the modern game and was top-scorer at FIFA World Cup 2022, becoming the first French player to win the Golden Boot for the first time in 64 years and prior to FIFA World Cup 2026, has scored 12 times in this tournament. A six-time Ligue 1 winner whilst at Paris Saint-Germain, Mbappe currently leads the line for 15-time European Champions Real Madrid.
Winner of the 2025 Ballon d’Or, Ousmane Dembele (Paris Saint-Germain) is another formidable attacker at Didier Deschamps’ disposal. Proven on the biggest footballing stages, Dembele played a key role in Paris Saint-Germain winning their first ever UEFA Champions League in 2024-25 and was named UEFA Champions League Player of the Season for his efforts. Over the past two seasons, he has racked up over 50 goals for the Parisians in all competitions.
Michael Olise (Bayern Munich) only made his debut for France in 2024 but is expected to be a key piece for Les Bleus at FIFA World Cup 2026. A skilful winger with a lethal eye for goal, Olise has been a revelation for Bayern Munich since joining the Rekordmeister in 2024, already passing 35 goals and 50 assists.
Who is in France’s group at FIFA World Cup 2026?
France are in Group I, which consists of the following teams:
France
Senegal
Iraq
Norway
France’s Group I fixtures are as follows:
France vs Senegal: Tuesday June 16, 2026 – 3:00pm ET, 8:00pm UK
France vs Iraq: Monday June 22, 2026 – 5:00pm ET, 10:00pm UK
Norway vs France: Friday June 26, 2026 – 3:00pm ET, 8:00pm UK
All kick-off dates are based on a local kick-off time
Where is France’s base camp at FIFA World Cup 2026?
Bentley University – Boston, Massachusetts
Expert prediction for France’s chances at FIFA World Cup 2026
Everybody knows about France’s attacking options at FIFA World Cup 2026. Whether it be Mbappe, Dembele or Olise to name just three, Les Bleus shouldn’t have a problem scoring goals. Expect the full backs to push forward whenever possible and for the centre-backs to prove significant threats from set pieces.
But whilst attack wins games, it’s defence that wins trophies and under Deschamps, France have usually boasted a stellar defence at major tournaments. Sometimes it has come at a cost to their offensive play, but to defeat the likes of Spain, Portugal and Argentina to name a few other contenders to win FIFA World Cup 2026, your backline needs to be perfect. Take France’s 1-0 win over Belgium in the 2018 semi-finals or their 2-0 win against Morocco in the 2022 semi-finals as prime examples.
Plenty of counties are blessed with world class options going forward, but France have a quality goalkeeper in Mike Maignan and an excellent defence to back him up. This gives them the edge over their competition and with Deschamps having been there and done it both as a player and a head coach, Les Bleus are well-placed to go all the way and become world champions for a third time at FIFA World Cup 2026.
What round will France reach at FIFA World Cup 2026? Winners
