Fifa World Cup 2026: What you need to know about France

Get the lowdown on every team at the 2026 World Cup. Here we take a closer look at 2022 runners-up France.

What can I expect from France?

Didier Deschamps will attempt to bring the curtain down on 14 years in charge of France by emulating Italy's Vittorio Pozzo in 1938 as the only coach to win two World Cups.

He is already one of just three men to have done so as player and coach following the triumphs of 1998 and 2018 and France begin this tournament with perhaps the most balanced and talented squad of all.

France have reached the World Cup final in four of the past seven editions - at least twice as often as any other nation during this period - while they are aiming to become only the third team to reach the final in three consecutive tournaments, after West Germany (1982, 1986 and 1990) and Brazil (1994, 1998 and 2002).

Lessons have apparently been learned from the oddity of Euro 2024 in which a curiously listless Les Bleus scored just three times from open play, including two own goals.

Deschamps has since switched to a 4-2-3-1 formation with Bayern Munich attacker Michael Olise as a number 10, while Champions League winner Ousmane Dembele has freedom on the right to build attacks between the lines.

A mean defence conceded just four goals in qualifying.

What are France's strengths?

Estimates suggest that the nine attacking players selected for France have a combined market value of more than €800m.

Michael Olise, Ousmane Dembele, Kylian Mbappe and Desire Doue alone are worth an estimated €530m – more than the current estimated market value of Brazil's entire World Cup attack (€502m).

And what about their weaknesses?

Despite their attacking riches, France can occasionally lack for a focal point.

There is a question mark over who starts at left-back with both Lucas Digne and Theo Hernandez perhaps more effective going forward, while the more reliable defensive option, Lucas Hernandez, has been plagued by injuries throughout his career.

How might France line up?

Which players should I look out for?

He may have made just 11 starts in 22 league games, but PSG winger Ousmane Dembele still won Ligue 1's player-of-the-year award after averaging 1.4 goals and assists per 90 minutes, a tally bettered only by Harry Kane (1.6) in Europe's top five leagues. He also scored in the Champions League final win against Arsenal.

Kylian Mbappe scored 42 goals in 44 games in all competitions in 2025-26. Twelve goals across the past two World Cups are the most of any player, including a hat-trick in the 2022 final. The Real Madrid striker needs four more to equal Germany forward Miroslav Klose's all-time World Cup record of 16.

Michael Olise is another France player in frightening form: the attacking midfielder provided 26 assists for Bayern Munich across all competitions this season, at least four more than any other player in Europe's elite leagues.

Who is France's head coach?

Didier Deschamps so nearly became only the second coach to win two World Cups after losing the 2022 final to Argentina.

The longest-serving manager at this tournament by some five years, his contract ends in July with fellow 1998 World Cup winner Zinedine Zidane expected to replace him.

How did France qualify?

France won five of six games, sealing qualification with a 4-0 win against Ukraine, who finished second. They only dropped points drawing in Iceland

Where can I watch France?

All of France's matches will also be covered live on the BBC Sport website and app with updates, analysis, and fan reaction. Come and be part of it!

Give me a fact to impress my friends

Fanatical France superfan Clement Tomaszewski is expected to attend a 10th World Cup having watched his beloved Les Bleus on more than 300 occasions.

Tomaszewski shot to fame during the 1998 World Cup final after he was pictured holding pet cockerel Balthazar aloft following France's 3-0 win against Brazil.

Tomaszewski's small wooden World Cup trophy signed by 13 1998 world champions and his first World Cup ticket from June 16, 1982 are on display at the FIFA Museum in Zurich.

Now give me some proper detail

The last dance of Didier Deschamps storied career as France head coach could end in the ultimate denouement – a third World Cup win as player and coach and status cemented as an all-time great.

Captain for France's maiden World Cup win on home soil in 1998, Deschamps then became just the third man after Brazil's Mario Zagallo and Germany's Franz Beckenbauer to also lift the Jules Rimet trophy as a coach 20 years later in Russia.

Deschamp's task is made more attainable by the array talent at his disposal, particularly in attack.

According to estimates by football website transfermarkt and the CIES Football Observatory, which assess factors including age and contract lengths, France's offensive players are worth a combined €825m.

If France are to become just the third nation to reach three straight World Cup finals, they can call on the richest of resources.

Left-back, however is an area of potential vulnerability – and one that was exposed ruthlessly by the Ivory Coast on 4 June, as they scored a shock late winner following an attack down the French left-hand side.

But key defender William Salibam was rested against the Elephants and one friendly loss is unlikely to overly dent Gallic confidence.

Kylian Mbappe, meanwhile, will prepare to face Northern Ireland in the second warm-up needing one goal to equal Olivier Giroud's all-time France record (57).

How have France done at previous World Cups?