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Bursting at the seams with world-class talent, big things are expected from France this summer, but can Les Bleus shake off the burden of expectation to win the 2026 FIFA World Cup?
Few, if any squads, competing in North America will be sprinkled with as much stardust as this current French collective. Winners in 2018 and beaten finalists in 2022, France also have a proven, recent pedigree on this stage, so outright glory has to be the aim again.
However, France wilted at their last major tournament in Euro 2024, exiting at the semi-final stage following a string of toothless displays, so they have questions to answer and points to prove stateside.
Market sentiment still continues to side with Didier Deschamp’s charges however, with France wrestling with Spain for the honour of pre-tournament outright favourites.
If everything clicks, the French should be difficult to stop, and in this MansionBet.com World Cup feature, we examine their chances of winning the 20206 World Cup in detail.
How did France qualify for the 2026 World Cup?
Placed in a four-team group alongside Ukraine, Iceland and Azerbaijan, France’s route to the 2026 World Cup looked uncomplicated from the outset and as expected, they made light work of their task.
France won five and drew one of their six qualifiers in UEFA Group D, scoring 16 times while conceding just four goals at the other end, collecting 16 of the 18 points on offer to top the section comfortably.
Kylian Mbappe was their most productive individual, chipping in with five goals and three assists during France’s straightforward campaign, with Bayern Munich’s Michael Olise and Crystal Palace’s Jean-Philippe Mateta chipping in with two goals each.
With the French talent pool incredibly deep, Head Coach Didier Deschamps was keen to involve as many players as possible during the nation’s qualification run, and 30 different individuals were handed minutes across France’s six qualifiers.
France went on to win a couple of high-profile friendly fixtures in March against Brazil (2-1) and Colombia (3-1) too, with Desire Doue, who notched twice against the Colombians, staking a major claim for a prominent role in Deschamps’ XI at the World Cup.
World Cup 2026: France’s Group I opponents
France will share Group I with Senegal, Iraq and Norway at the World Cup and if proceedings run according to form and ranking, Les Bleus should top the section. France have been priced at around 2/5 to win Group I with the best World Cup betting sites. Here’s a snapshot on each of their opponents:
Senegal: The current AFCON champions famously beat France in a World Cup group game in 2002, and matching that result this time around would be seen as show stopper of equal magnitude. The Lions de la Téranga could be a real nuisance this summer, with Everton’s Iliman Ndiaye, Al-Nassr’s Sadio Mane and Crystal Palace’s Ismaila Sarr just a few of the dangerous forwards at Senegal’s disposal. France play Senegal at the MetLife Stadium, East Rutherford on June 16th.
Iraq: Playing at their first World Cup since 1986, Iraq beat Bolivia in a playoff after a convoluted qualification process to reach the finals for the first time in 40 years. Graham Arnold, who oversaw Australia’s surprise run to the Round of 16 at the 2022 edition, is on the Iraqi hotseat, though it would be seen as an upset if the Lions of Mesopotamia made it out of their group this year. France play Iraq at the Lincoln Financial Field, Philadelphia on June 22nd.
Norway: The Norwegians return to the World Cup platform for the first time since 1998 and they have the talent to make a real splash this summer. Norway won 100% of their eight games to finish ahead of Italy during qualification. Erling Haaland remains the biggest draw, though the Man City star is aided by a strong supporting cast from around Europe’s major leagues. France take on Norway at the Gillette Stadium, Foxborough on June 26th.
World Cup 2026: France’s Key Players
Kylian Mbappe – The Real Madrid man finished his club campaign on a sour note and was even booed by his own supporters in La Liga, however, that should mean that he is extra motivated to perform this summer. A winner in 2018, Mbappe scored a hattrick in the final of World Cup 2022, and the 27-year-old his has 12 goals in just 14 appearances at the tournament overall. Mbappe could surpass Oliver Giroud to become France’s all-time top goalscorer this year.
Ousmane Dembele – The winger’s return of seven goals in 58 caps for France is a modest haul for a player of his ability, though Dembele looks well positioned to be a star this summer. The 2025 Ballon d’Or winner is a proven force at club level with PSG and his pace, trickery and precision in front of goal should make him a match-winner.
Dayot Upamecano – The centre-half anchors the defence for France and Upamecano was one of only three players to start five or more of France’s World Cup qualifiers. The 27-year-old was imperious for Bayern Munich during the Bavarians’ Bundesliga title-winning campaign and the defender’s blend of strong physical and technical traits will make him a vital cog in Didier Deschamps’ side.
Michael Olise – Now firmly considered among the world’s elite players in his position, Olise delivered 20+ goals and 20+ assists for Bayern Munich in all competitions last season, and has made a habit of producing in clutch moments. The 24-year-old will feature at a World Cup for the first time this year and he has the quality to steal the show.
France’s Strengths
The depth of talent available to Head Coach Didier Deschamps is mind blowing and France could probably send two competitive squads to this summer’s 2026 World Cup.
The variety of options open to Deschamps was evident when he named his provisional squad for the tournament and there was no room for big players like Eduardo Camavinga, Kingsley Coman and Randal Kolo Muani, while the absence of injured Liverpool attacker Hugo Ekitiké barely caused a ripple.
While Les Blues have balance and variety all over the pitch, their arsenal of weapons in attack is particularly impressive, with the list of names there likely to set defenders’ knees knocking.
Kylian Mbappé, Ousmane Dembele, Marcus Thuram, Bradley Barcola, Michael Olise, Rayan Cherki and Desire Doue are likely to be competing for three spots in France’s frontline, and it’s possible to pull some mouthwatering potential combinations from that stable of forwards.
France’s Weaknesses
When everything clicks for France, they can be next to unstoppable, however, they do, on occasion, lack a ruthless edge in attack and are prone to fluffing their lines in front of goal.
That wasteful streak was particularly noticeable in their qualifiers against Iceland, where France manufactured 20+ shots in each game, but could only force a narrow 2-1 at home and a 2-2 draw away against the islanders.
France’s clunkiness in the opponents’ penalty area was also a feature of their Euro 2024 campaign and eventual semifinal exit. The French scored only four times in six fixtures in that competition before they were eliminated by Portugal, and that included two own goals and a penalty.
With so many big-name attackers pushing for starting berths, Didier Deschamps might also be having sleepless nights in terms of selection. It might be difficult for the French boss to keep egos in check and the mood in the camp positive when he’s leaving out players who are used to being protagonists at club level.
The best teams also require a selflessness in the final third to be at their most effective, though France have several forwards who have “main character syndrome”. That could create problems, especially if performances or results aren’t what they should be.
Then there is the Kylian Mbappe question. What frame of mind is Mbappe likely to be in following his unsettling end to the club campaign with Real Madrid? Will speculation around his future have an adverse effect on his performances?
Can France win the 2026 FIFA World Cup?
France endured heartbreak at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar when they were ousted by Lionel Messi and Argentina in a chaotic final, though their failure at the final hurdle last time could provide the motivation they need to win in 2026.
Much of Les Bleus’ chances rest on how Didier Deschamps manages the quality and egos in his frontline. If the 57-year-old can harness the frightening firepower at his disposal fully, then France could blow most opponents away this summer.
Deschamps, who will exit his role after 14 years in July, will be determined to end his stint on a high, though he toiled in his attempts to get the best out of his troops at Euro 2024, when France never got going as an attacking force, despite their advancement to the final four.
A run to the semi-final at FIFA World Cup 2026 should be the minimum that French fans demand, an outcome that carried a price of around 6/4 at the time of writing.
It is interesting to note that France and Spain have been kept apart on opposite sides of the draw. La Roja beat France in the semis of Euro 2024 en route to winning the competition, and they also toppled Les Blues 5-4 in a Nations League thriller when the countries last crossed paths in May last year.
Don’t be surprised if France meet their Spanish adversaries in the 2026 World Cup Final at the MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford on July 19th.
