Kylian Mbappe has been selected to lead France at the upcoming World Cup, as confirmed by national team coach Didier Deschamps in the announcement of his 26-player squad for the tournament set to take place in the United States, Canada, and Mexico. Deschamps, who steered France to World Cup victory in 2018 and is set to step down after the 2026 edition, made some expected choices in the squad.
Despite recovering from a recent thigh injury that caused him to miss crucial matches during Real Madrid’s La Liga campaign, Mbappe is expected to captain the team. The 27-year-old forward will join a star-studded French attacking lineup alongside Ousmane Dembele, the current Ballon d’Or holder, Desire Doue from Paris Saint-Germain, and Bayern Munich winger Michael Olise.
One notable addition to the squad is Rayan Cherki, who will be making his World Cup debut at the age of 22. Cherki, who has had an impressive first season at Manchester City, will be joined by Premier League defender William Saliba from Arsenal, adding defensive strength to Les Bleus.
Among the veterans in the squad are full-back Lucas Hernandez and midfielder N’Golo Kante, who, along with Mbappe and Dembele, are the only remaining members from Deschamps’ victorious World Cup squad in Russia eight years ago.
The squad includes goalkeepers Mike Maignan from AC Milan, Robin Risser from Lens, and Brice Samba from Rennes. The defensive lineup features players like Lucas Digne (Aston Villa), Malo Gusto (Chelsea), and Theo Hernandez (Al Hilal), among others. In midfield, N’Golo Kante is joined by players like Adrien Rabiot (AC Milan) and Aurelien Tchouameni (Real Madrid). The forward line includes talents like Maghnes Akliouche (Monaco), Bradley Barcola (PSG), and Marcus Thuram (Inter Milan), among others.