France World Cup 2026 squad: Lineup and tactics for Spain

France meet Spain in the Semi-Finals of a major tournament once again after the two heavyweights collided in Munich at Euro 2024. Les Bleus will be aiming for revenge after the Iberians defeated them that night, and went on to lift the trophy. Kylian Mbappé and co have stolen the show so far this summer.

Didier Deschamps’ team have looked unstoppable and – since the tournament began – have leapfrogged Spain as the bookies’ favourites to win World Cup 2026. Star man Mbappé and Ballon d’Or winner Ousmane Dembélé have weighed in with 13 goals between them while, at the other end, the back line has conceded just twice and not since the group stages.

There were concerns within French football about whether Deschamps’ pragmatism would get in the way of the obvious flair and creativity of the squad after the Euro 2024 campaign delivered few moments of excitement. Those doubts have been emphatically put to bed – they’ve been a joy to watch!

Mbappé is once again battling for the Golden Boot and is tied with Lionel Messi on a staggering eight goals from six games, having broken the deadlock against Morocco in the Quarter-Finals. He should’ve done so earlier in the game, but was denied from the penalty spot by Yassine Bounou.

Dembélé bagged the second in that game and has five in total – remarkably, he hadn’t scored a single tournament goal before this summer. Can the pair, plus Michael Olise and all their other attacking talent, break down a Spanish defence which has conceded just once in the whole tournament?

Check out our latest World Cup match betting tips and predictions ahead of today’s games

France World Cup 2026 squad and predicted lineup: key takeaways

• France’s attacking depth is their biggest structural advantage, with Deschamps able to rotate between Bradley Barcola, Désiré Doué and Rayan Cherki in the playmaking trio.
• Mbappé now has eight tournament goals and 20 across his World Cup career. He has underlined once again that when France need a decisive moment, he provides it – his calm penalty against Paraguay was exactly that. He is the headline act and who they’ll be looking to against Spain.
• Michael Olise looks set to win the award for Most Assists at the World Cup having created five goals for teammates. The Bayern winger has sparkled, but somehow hasn’t managed to score himself yet. Could that moment come in the biggest game(s) of all?

Didier Deschamps’ last dance

Didier Deschamps has already confirmed that he will step down after the World Cup following a successful 14-year spell in charge of his country.

Deschamps will be desperate to add another major trophy to France’s collection before he departs the scene, having previously guided les Bleus to World Cup glory in 2018.

Zinedine Zidane is in line to replace him. The France legend has been out of work since leaving Real Madrid in 2021.

Deschamps has previously been renowned for his “safety first” tactics, but this France side have been the polar opposite to that which was grinding out results at Euro 2024.

The star player: Kylian Mbappé

Kylian Mbappé is one of the best footballers on the planet, and arrived at the World Cup under pressure to deliver after two trophyless seasons with Real Madrid.

Mbappé’s goalscoring numbers have been exactly as you’d expect, however, and he has a proven track record of performing at a very high level for the French national team. 

For all the talent available to Deschamps, Mbappé remains the main man in the France World Cup lineup – and he has underlined that with his performances so far. You’d expect him to be the one to deliver if and when France become desperate for a goal against top tier opposition.

France 2026 World Cup confirmed 26-man squad

How France lined up against Morocco

Deschamps has had the luxury of switching between PSG wingers Bradley Barcola and Désiré Doué on the left flank, with both contributing goals and assists whenever they’ve had their chance. Doué was given the start against Morocco and he set up Mbappé for the opening goal.

Roma’s Manu Koné has stepped up very well in place of Aurélien Tchouaméni, after the Real Madrid man picked up a thigh injury in the group stage. He should be fit enough to return for this crucial Semi-Final though.

Besides Tchouaméni returning in midfield and the usual Barcola/Doué dilemma, it’s unlikely Deschamps will tinker with what has been a well-oiled machine so far.

How to bet on the France World Cup squad

There are specific betting markets relevant to the France starting XI for World Cup 2026. One of the most popular is the anytime goalscorer market.

Mbappé is the standout pick in the anytime goalscorer market and has the added motivation of chasing Messi in the Golden Boot standings. His calm penalty against Paraguay showed he has his shooting boots on when it matters.

Doué is an interesting value option given his impact as a substitute – if Morocco sit deep and France need to open them up, Deschamps will turn to him.

Aurélien Tchouaméni remains the most relevant France player for the cards market, as a holding midfielder tasked with breaking up play.”

Is there a chance of France winning the World Cup?

There is not just a chance, the latest World Cup odds view France as the team to beat. They’re 15/8 to lift the trophy at the vast majority of bookies, having climbed ahead of Spain since the tournament got underway.

FAQ about the 2026 France World Cup squad

1. How many times have France won the World Cup?

France have won the World Cup twice in the competition’s 96-year history. Their maiden triumph came in 1998, when les Bleus lifted the trophy as the host nation.

They added a second star to their jerseys in 2018, beating Croatia in the final in Russia. France have also been runners-up twice, in 2006 and 2022.

2. Which players are injured and missing from the starting 11?

Hugo Ekitike remains absent after suffering an achilles injury that ruled him out before the tournament. No new injury concerns have emerged from the Paraguay game, and Deschamps has a fully fit squad available for Morocco.

3. Are there any changes to France’s usual starting 11?

The France starting 11 has undergone changes since Euro 2024. Antoine Griezmann has retired from international football and Randal Kolo Muani’s form has dipped.

Former Crystal Palace winger Michael Olise and Désiré Doué have burst onto the international scene since that tournament two years ago, making France one of the more intriguing sides to follow in our World Cup betting predictions – their starting XI contains a healthy mix of youth and experience

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About the author

Greg Lea

Greg Lea is a freelance football writer from London. He predominantly covers the Premier League and has had work published by the Guardian, FourFourTwo, ESPN and others.

Follow Greg on X: @GregLeaFootball

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