
16 Jun
Tue
•15:00
MetLife Stadium • New York
22 Jun
Mon
•17:00
Lincoln Financial Field • Philadelphia
26 Jun
Fri
•15:00
Gillette Stadium • Boston
Few teams are as intimidating in a World Cup as France. The Les Bleus squad blends a generation of immense talent with a deeply rooted competitive culture, honed over years of battling for titles. Their football combines physical power, technical skill, and a remarkable ability to make decisive plays in the box, making them a formidable opponent at any stage of the tournament.
France's World Cup history speaks for itself: champions in 1998 and 2018, runners-up in 2006 and 2022, and regulars in the final rounds since the 1980s. Those semifinals in 1982 and 1986, the glory of Saint-Denis in 1998, or the recent final in Qatar have cemented France as a powerhouse that almost always shows up at the crucial moment. Their recent trajectory naturally places them among the title contenders.
The blue jersey has been worn by legends like Michel Platini, Zinedine Zidane, and Thierry Henry, symbols of different golden eras. Today, leadership falls to stars like Kylian Mbappé, one of the most decisive attackers on the planet, supported by the talent and experience of Antoine Griezmann, Ousmane Dembélé, and a generation of midfielders and defenders playing at the highest European level. The result is a team with depth and solutions in almost every position.
Looking ahead to 2026, most analysts place France as one of the clear favorites for the title. The draw has placed them in Group I, a challenging group where they will face continental champions, emerging stars, and a rival from the intercontinental playoff. These are their opponents:
For France, the minimum goal is to qualify with authority for the knockout stages, ideally as group leaders, and from there confirm on the pitch what many already assume on paper: that they are in a position to seriously compete for the World Cup once again.