France's 2026 World Cup Squad Plan: Deschamps Teases May Reveal And A Captaincy Surprise
16 November 2025
France's World Cup 2026 squad reveal planned for May, says Deschamps
Didier Deschamps, France's head coach, has confirmed that the World Cup 2026 squad will be announced in the second half of May. The event will precede the summer tournament, hosted jointly by the United States, Canada, and Mexico.
France became the second European team to secure a spot at the 2026 World Cup, following England, after a 4-0 victory over Ukraine at the Parc des Princes. That win propelled Les Bleus to the top of Group 4 with 13 points, keeping them ahead of Iceland (7 points) and Ukraine, with Azerbaijan still in the rear with a single point.
The fixture list shows France traveling to Azerbaijan for a late-week clash in Baku, a match described as a formality where coach and staff will test ideas and give chances to younger players who could feature prominently in the summer of 2026.
Hours before kickoff, Deschamps spoke on TF1, saying, “We will announce the squad for the World Cup in the second half of May.” The timing has supporters and pundits alike speculating about names, roles, and the balance of experience and youth.
Around the club landscape, GFFN reported that the initial list could mirror the 2022 World Cup approach with a 26-man pool. In the Azerbaijan assignment, Ibrahim Konaté of Liverpool is expected to wear the armband, stepping into a captaincy role in the absence of others due to rotation or injury.
Key personnel dynamics include Mbappé’s minor ankle issue keeping him out of the Azerbaijan game, with Mike Maignan on the bench and Lucas Chevalier set to operate in goal. Deschamps stressed that the camp’s 22 players ready for the final training session will help shape the ultimate World Cup roster, underscoring the need to preserve momentum and bring through capable substitutes when needed.
The coach reiterated that the World Cup roster will be finalized in May, while emphasizing France’s long-standing World Cup pedigree, including 17 appearances in the finals and eight consecutive campaigns, with multiple trophies accrued under his tenure since 2012. He highlighted 174 games overseen, 112 wins, 32 draws, 30 losses, and a tally of 372 goals scored against 164 conceded, underscoring a historically successful era marked by a pragmatic but effective approach.
Speculation continues about Zidane’s future prospects, with many French outlets hinting at a post-Deschamps era where the former Real Madrid coach could take the helm if the opportunity arises.
Looking ahead, Deschamps confirmed that the Azerbaijan match will serve as a platform to gauge depth and to reward players showing promise in domestic leagues, with a view toward assembling a competitive squad for the summer’s major tournaments.
Punchline time: If this squad were a baguette, it would be perfectly layered—crisp on the outside, soft on the inside, and still somehow saving room for a few surprises. And if the defense were any tighter, tickets to pass would come with a passport and a sense of humor.
Punchline time 2: Deschamps assembling a squad so balanced, even the croissants are asking for a spot in the roster. If results were coffee, France would be a triple espresso—bold, demanding, and somehow still quite classy.
