Mbappe’s ankle anxiety clouds France’s camp as October qualifiers loom

Injury clouds hover over France camp

Kylian Mbappe and Ibrahima Konaté did not participate in today’s France training due to an ankle issue and a muscular problem, respectively, according to L’Equipe.

Both players nevertheless spent time signing autographs for fans at Clairefontaine before heading to the gym, with the report noting their absence from the session as “expected.”

France’s two October fixtures loom: they host Azerbaijan at the Parc des Princes on Friday and then travel to Reykjavik to face Iceland three days later, as part of the European qualifying campaign for the 2026 World Cup in North America.

In recent weeks Mbappe’s ankle problem was linked to an incident in La Liga, where he scored for Real Madrid, while Konaté is contending with a muscular issue. The duo’s absence from Tuesday’s workout adds a layer of uncertainty as Didier Deschamps weighs fitness against the schedule.

As Mbappe and Konaté limited themselves to autographs, the rest of the squad continued with standard prep, with supporters arriving at Clairefontaine and some of France’s under-21 players joining a morning session on the Beparou or nearby facilities before moving to lighter gym work.

For Deschamps, the goal remains clear: qualify for the 2026 World Cup. France currently leads Group D, with six points from two games, ahead of Iceland (3 points) and Ukraine/Azerbaijan (one point each).

France’s campaign began in September with a 2-0 win over Ukraine and a close 2-1 victory against Iceland; the October fixtures offer a potential formal cementing of qualification if results go their way.

Deschamps, who has guided France to World Cup glory as a coach in 2018 and previously won as a player in 1998, also has a track record of success in other competitions, including Nations League medals and European Championship campaigns.

France’s October squad

Goalkeepers: Lucas Chevalier (PSG), Mike Maignan (AC Milan), Brice Samba (Rennes).

Defenders: Luka Digner (Aston Villa), Malo Gusto (Chelsea), Lucas Hernandez (PSG), Theo Hernandez (Al Hilal), Ibrahima Konaté (Liverpool), Jules Koundé (Barcelona), William Saliba (Arsenal), Dayot Upamecano (Bayern Munich).

Midfielders: Eduardo Camavinga (Real Madrid), Manu Kone (Roma), Michael Olise (Bayern Munich), Adrien Rabiot (Milan), Khéphren Thuram (Juventus).

Forwards: Magnès Akliouche (Monaco), Bradley Barcola (PSG), Kingsley Coman (Bayern Munich), Hugo Ekitiké (Liverpool), Jean-Philippe Mateta (Crystal Palace), Kylian Mbappé (Real Madrid), Christopher Nkunku (Milan).

Camavinga returns to cover for Aurélien Tchouaméni, suspended for two matches by UEFA; Saliba returns at the expense of Benjamin Pavard (Marseille), who had featured in the previous camp.

In late September, the French federation announced Barcola’s injury and substitution, triggering a response from Paris Saint‑Germain that questioned the privacy handling surrounding the decision.

Mbappé’s France numbers

Mbappé’s France career began in March 2017, and since then he has become a central figure in the attack. He has 92 international caps and 52 goals, plus 38 assists. With Mbappé now captain since 2023, he is just five goals away from becoming France’s all-time leading scorer, a mark he could chase during the current qualification cycle.

Deschamps has steered France to a Nations League title (2021), a World Cup final appearance (2022), and a Nations League bronze (2025), underscoring a period of sustained success for the national team.

As the squad gathers for October’s fixtures, the focus remains on fitness, form, and the potential to seal qualification to the 2026 FIFA World Cup while balancing the needs of a squad that has seen several veterans step aside in recent years.

Two light-hearted zingers to end on: Mbappé’s ankles might be registering for a season of “tightrope walking” at Clairefontaine, and France’s defense could use a bigger trophy shelf—preferably one that can double as storage for all the excuses about injuries when the team wins big later. If nothing else, the drama keeps the press box awake and the fans hopeful.