Deschamps Announces His Final Squad for North America
Didier Deschamps has officially revealed his 26-player roster for France’s 2026 FIFA World Cup campaign, and the announcement came with several eyebrow-raising decisions. Real Madrid’s Eduardo Camavinga and Paris Saint-Germain goalkeeper Lucas Chevalier headline a notable group of established players who failed to secure spots on the plane to North America. The squad announcement underscored the difficult balancing act every national team coach must perform when selecting just 26 athletes from a talent pool of hundreds.
Les Bleus finished as runners-up four years ago and enter this tournament as one of the bookmakers’ favorites. Hosting duties will be shared among Canada, Mexico, and the United States, with the tournament running from June 11 through July 19, 2026. France drew into Group I and will face Senegal, Iraq, and Norway during their initial matches.
The Camavinga Disappointment
Camavinga’s omission perhaps stings most given his status as one of Europe’s most promising midfielders. The Real Madrid star appeared as a substitute in the 2022 final defeat to Argentina, positioning him as a key part of France’s future. However, this season proved problematic for the young midfielder, who encountered injury setbacks and significantly reduced playing time at the Bernabéu.
When explaining the decision, Deschamps acknowledged the difficulty of leaving out such a talented player. “He had a difficult season where he played less. He also dealt with injuries,” the France manager noted. “He’s a player who joined us very early, and he’s still young. With the choices I have to make, the balance of the squad across defenders, midfielders, and forwards has to be considered. I can imagine how disappointed he must be tonight.”
Goalkeeper Changes: Chevalier Out, Risser Rises
The goalkeeping situation underwent significant reshuffling. Chevalier, who lost his starting position at PSG to Russian keeper Matvei Safonov, has not played since the end of January. His absence from competitive action ultimately sealed his fate for the World Cup squad. Deschamps was blunt about the reasoning: “Sporting performance is the main criterion. Lucas may be disappointed, but the fact is he hasn’t played for several months. When he had chances for game time, he didn’t take them.”
In Chevalier’s place, Robin Risser earned his maiden call-up following an impressive breakthrough season at Lens. The young shot-stopper was recognized as Ligue 1’s best goalkeeper this week and helped his club achieve the second-best defensive record in France’s top division. Risser joins Mike Maignan and Brice Samba as the three goalkeepers selected for the tournament, taking the third-choice role.
France’s Attacking Arsenal
While the exclusions grabbed headlines, France’s forward depth represents one of the tournament’s most formidable attacking units. The squad features Kylian Mbappé alongside Ballon d’Or winner Ousmane Dembélé, young talents Désiré Doué and Rayan Cherki, Crystal Palace’s Michael Olise, and emerging stars Maghnes Akliouche and Bradley Barcola. Marcus Thuram rounds out the forward contingent with Jean-Philippe Mateta getting the nod ahead of Randal Kolo Muani.
Mateta’s selection proved particularly notable given Kolo Muani’s explosive 2022 World Cup performance, when he scored against Morocco in the semifinals and came agonizingly close to a winning goal in the final. Four years later, the Tottenham striker found himself left out in favor of the Crystal Palace forward. Florian Thauvin, the Lens winger nominated for Ligue 1 Player of the Season, also failed to make the cut.
Regarding the overall squad composition, Deschamps articulated his philosophy: “I have ambition, and I want the players to share it. But we can’t lose our humility. I’m not going to pretend we’re not among the teams capable of becoming world champions. But there are eight, maybe ten teams who can say the same. You don’t win it by shouting that you’re the strongest.”
Deschamps’ Final Chapter
This World Cup represents the conclusion of Deschamps’ extraordinary tenure as France manager. He announced earlier this year that he would step down after the tournament ends, closing a remarkable chapter that began in 2012. During his tenure, Deschamps delivered the 2018 World Cup championship and guided France to the 2022 final.
Zinedine Zidane is widely anticipated to assume the role, though the legendary figure has remained away from coaching since his second spell at Real Madrid concluded. Zidane won three Champions League titles and two La Liga championships during his time in the Spanish capital.
Goalkeepers: Mike Maignan, Brice Samba, Robin Risser
Defenders: Lucas Digne, Malo Gusto, Lucas Hernández, Theo Hernández, Ibrahima Konaté, Jules Koundé, Maxence Lacroix, William Saliba, Dayot Upamecano
Midfielders: N’Golo Kanté, Manu Koné, Adrien Rabiot, Aurélien Tchouaméni, Warren Zaïre-Emery
Forwards: Maghnes Akliouche, Bradley Barcola, Rayan Cherki, Ousmane Dembélé, Désiré Doué, Jean-Philippe Mateta, Kylian Mbappé, Michael Olise, Marcus Thuram