Deschamps Names His Squad

Didier Deschamps named France's official 26-man World Cup squad on May 14, and the most notable thing about it is who isn't there. Antoine Griezmann retired from international football in July 2024 after Euro 2024. The man who played alongside Mbappé for years, who scored in the 2018 World Cup final, who gave France a technical intelligence and off-the-ball work that no one else provided — he won't be in North America. France's attack belongs entirely to the new generation now.

That new generation is genuinely extraordinary. Mbappé, 27, is at Real Madrid and arguably the best player in the world. Ousmane Dembélé, more consistent than at any previous point in his career. Bradley Barcola, 21, electric. Désiré Doué, 20. Rayan Cherki, 19. Michael Olise, 23, who had a transformative season at Bayern Munich. Deschamps has more attacking talent available than any France squad in history — more, arguably, than the 2018 winners.

The Defense Is the Foundation

William Saliba and Ibrahima Konaté form one of the best central defensive partnerships in European football. Both play at Arsenal and Liverpool respectively — both have spent two seasons proving they belong at the top. Between them, they give France a defensive base that makes Les Bleus genuinely hard to score against. The 2018 World Cup was won largely through defensive organization; this squad has that quality and considerably more attacking firepower than the team that beat Croatia in Moscow.

France vs Senegal at MetLife — June 16

France's first match at MetLife is June 16 against Senegal — a rematch of the 2022 World Cup Round of 16, where France won 3-1. Senegal are Africa's double AFCON champions and will not be easy opposition. The atmosphere at MetLife for this fixture will be extraordinary: France's large community in New York versus Senegal's equally passionate New York fanbase, in a stadium that holds 82,000. This is the group stage match of the tournament's opening weekend.

The Question About Mbappé

Mbappé's tournament performances for France have sometimes fallen short of his club level — he was the best player in the 2022 final despite being on the losing side, but there have been tournaments where he disappeared at crucial moments. The 2026 World Cup is the one where the question gets answered definitively. He is 27, at the peak of his powers, playing for the best club in the world. If France win this tournament, Mbappé's place in the pantheon of the all-time greats is secured. He knows it. The team knows it. This squad is built for him to deliver.