Kylian Mbappé and Ballon d'Or winner Ousmane Dembélé are set to lead a formidable French attack after Didier Deschamps unveiled his 26-man squad for this summer's World Cup. The defending champions are once again stacked with talent, and fans of the iconic blue jersey have plenty to be excited about.
Mbappé, now a Real Madrid star, has netted 56 goals for France—second only to Olivier Giroud's 57—and is expected to captain the side despite nursing a thigh injury. Dembélé, meanwhile, is coming off a sensational season with Paris Saint-Germain, scoring 35 goals and winning the Champions League to claim the Ballon d'Or. Surprisingly, he's yet to find the net at a World Cup despite being in the last two squads.
The attacking quartet is rounded out by Bayern Munich's Michael Olise and PSG's Désiré Doué, adding pace and creativity. Manchester City playmaker Rayan Cherki and Arsenal defender William Saliba headline seven Premier League-based players in the squad, showcasing France's deep talent pool across Europe's top leagues.
Lucas Hernández and N'Golo Kanté join Mbappé and Dembélé as the only survivors from France's 2018 World Cup-winning team. Deschamps, who has led Les Bleus to back-to-back finals, made some bold calls for what will be his final major tournament as head coach.
Notable omissions include Real Madrid's Eduardo Camavinga and Tottenham's Randal Kolo Muani, both part of the 2022 squad. PSG goalkeeper Lucas Chevalier also misses out, with uncapped Lens shot-stopper Robin Risser serving as backup to Mike Maignan. Liverpool's Hugo Ekitike, sidelined by a season-ending Achilles injury in April, was an expected absence.
"It's a squad, not necessarily the 26 best players," Deschamps explained to French TV channel TF1. "It's about balance and how the team comes together. I can imagine how disappointed Camavinga must be—he's had a tough season with limited playing time and injuries. But I have decisions to make."
France kicks off their World Cup campaign against Senegal in New Jersey on June 16, followed by Group I matches against Iraq (June 22) and Norway (June 26). With this blend of experience and emerging talent, Les Bleus look poised for another deep run—and their iconic kits will be in high demand as fans gear up for the action.