FRA
FIFA WORLD CUP 2026 · GROUP I · POT 1

France
World Cup 26-man squad

Manager Didier Deschamps · Fourth World Cup as head coach (2014 QF, 2018 winner, 2022 runner-up); stepping down after this tournament
MD1 Jun 16 vs Senegal MD2 Jun 22 vs Iraq MD3 Jun 26 vs Norway
17th World Cup appearance · best finish: Champions (1998, 2018)
26
Squad size
26.6
Avg. age
18 / 26
Overseas-based
13 / 13
WC veterans / Debutants
TEAM STORY

The climax of Didier Deschamps' long reign (since 2012). He has confirmed his departure after the tournament, aiming to top consecutive final appearances (2018 winners, 2022 runners-up).

Kylian Mbappé (Real Madrid) captains the side at his third World Cup, second only to Giroud (57) on France's scoring charts and chasing the all-time record. The attack features Ousmane Dembélé (PSG), Marcus Thuram (Inter) and Michael Olise (Bayern Munich), with Aurélien Tchouaméni (Real Madrid) and N'Golo Kanté (Fenerbahçe) anchoring midfield. William Saliba (Arsenal) and Dayot Upamecano (Bayern) form the central defence.

Group I pairs France with Senegal, Norway (Haaland) and Iraq. The opener against Senegal (June 16, New Jersey) and the Haaland clash with Norway (June 26, Foxborough) are the key dates.

PREDICTED XI

LIKELY 4-3-3.

Predicted 4-3-3 with Mbappé on the left, Thuram as a No.9, and Dembélé/Olise rotating on the right.

4-3-3 (predicted)
KEY PLAYERS

KEY PLAYERS.

The five players who set the tone in the group stage — by role and trait.

10
FW · FW
Kylian Mbappé
Real Madrid · 27 · La Liga
98 caps · 56G WC: 2018, 2022
Captain · 2nd all-time top scorer
CAPTAIN
7
CF · FW
Ousmane Dembélé
Paris Saint-Germain · 29 · Ligue 1
61 caps · 7G WC: 2018, 2022
Right-wing thrust
ACE
8
MF · MF
Aurélien Tchouaméni
Real Madrid · 26 · La Liga
40 caps · 2G WC: 2022
Defensive midfield anchor
17
CB · DF
William Saliba
Arsenal · 25 · Premier League
23 caps · 1G WC: 2022
Defensive cornerstone
16
GK · GK
Mike Maignan
AC Milan · 30 · Serie A
29 caps · 0G WC debut
First-choice keeper
SQUAD

SQUAD 26.

GK GOALKEEPERS 3
DF DEFENDERS 9
MF MIDFIELDERS 5
FW FORWARDS 9
GROUP I

GROUP I.

FRA
France
POT 1
SEN
Senegal
POT 2
NOR
Norway
POT 3
IRQ
Iraq
POT 4
Tue, Jun 16
France vs Senegal
New York New Jersey Stadium · New Jersey, USA
A Pot 1 vs Pot 2 powerhouse opener. Senegal's athleticism meets France's pace via Mbappé, Dembélé and Thuram.
View lineups →
MD1
Mon, Jun 22
France vs Iraq
Philadelphia Stadium · Philadelphia, USA
A points-banking game. Likely rotation for Olise, Barcola, Cherki and others.
View lineups →
MD2
Fri, Jun 26
Norway vs France
Boston Stadium · Foxborough, USA
Group decider against Haaland's Norway. The Saliba/Upamecano centre-back pairing must handle the Manchester City striker.
View lineups →
MD3

Road to the final

Spoiler-free: the potential bracket route by final group position. No results shown.

Win Group I
  1. Round of 32 Jun 30 · East Rutherford vs 3rd place (C/D/F/G/H)
  2. Round of 16 Jul 04 · Philadelphia vs Winner of Match 74
  3. Quarter-finals Jul 09 · Foxborough vs Winner of Match 90
  4. Semi-finals Jul 14 · Arlington vs Winner of Match 98
  5. Final Jul 19 · East Rutherford vs Winner of Match 102
Runners-up, Group I
  1. Round of 32 Jun 30 · Arlington vs Runners-up Group E
  2. Round of 16 Jul 05 · East Rutherford vs Winner of Match 76
  3. Quarter-finals Jul 11 · Miami Gardens vs Winner of Match 92
  4. Semi-finals Jul 15 · Atlanta vs Winner of Match 100
  5. Final Jul 19 · East Rutherford vs Winner of Match 101
← Back to World Cup hub
FIFA, FIFA World Cup, and the FIFA World Cup 2026 logo are trademarks of FIFA. This site is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or otherwise associated with FIFA or any of its affiliated organisations.
Flag icons by flag-icons (Panayiotis Lipiridis), MIT License.