Real Madrid midfielder Eduardo Camavinga and Paris Saint-Germain goalkeeper Lucas Chevalier have not been included in the France squad for the upcoming 2026 World Cup.
The French team, aiming for their third World Cup victory, is among the frontrunners as the tournament is set to take place from June 11 to July 19 in Canada, Mexico, and the United States.
– Predicted starting lineups for the World Cup
– 2026 World Cup Power Rankings: Who is No. 1?
– 2026 World Cup: Announced squads
Camavinga was part of the squad that reached the World Cup final in 2022, where he came off the bench during the loss to Argentina. However, he was left out of Didier Deschamps’ squad announced on Thursday.
“He had a tough season with less playing time and some injuries,” Deschamps remarked. “He started with us very young, and while he remains a promising player, I have to balance the squad across all positions. I completely understand his disappointment tonight.”
Chevalier also was notably omitted after losing his starting role to Matvei Safonov at PSG, and he hasn’t played since late January.
“The main criterion is performance on the pitch,” Deschamps stated. “I can understand Lucas Chevalier’s disappointment, but he hasn’t had any playing time for months.”
Deschamps has called up goalkeeper Robin Risser, who has enjoyed a breakout season with Lens and was recently named the league’s best goalkeeper. Risser has contributed significantly to Lens’ strong defensive performance this season and will serve as the third-choice goalkeeper behind Mike Maignan and Brice Samba.
France is placed in Group I and will compete against Senegal, Iraq, and Norway during the group stage.
Deschamps has a wealth of attacking talent at his disposal, including Kylian Mbappé, Ballon d’Or winner Ousmane Dembélé, and exciting prospects like Désiré Doué and Michael Olise.
“I am ambitious, and I expect the players to share that ambition,” Deschamps expressed on Thursday. “However, maintaining our humility is key. We are one of several teams capable of winning; it’s not about boasting that we’re the strongest.”
Additionally, Crystal Palace striker Jean-Philippe Mateta has been selected over Randal Kolo Muani for the squad.
Kolo Muani, who scored a vital goal against Morocco in the semifinals of the last World Cup, is now a notable exclusion after a late addition to the squad four years ago.
Florian Thauvin, a winger for Lens and a nominee for Ligue 1’s Player of the Season, may also feel sidelined by this decision.
This World Cup will mark Deschamps’ final tournament as head coach, as he plans to step down after the event, concluding a successful tenure that has seen France lift the World Cup trophy in 2018 and reach the finals again in 2022.
It is anticipated that former French star Zinedine Zidane will take the reins, despite not having managed since his last term with Real Madrid, where he secured three Champions League titles and two La Liga championships.
France’s World Cup Squad:
Goalkeepers: Mike Maignan, Brice Samba, Robin Risser.
Defenders: Lucas Digne, Malo Gusto, Lucas Hernández, Theo Hernández, Ibrahima Konaté, Jules Koundé, Maxence Lacroix, William Saliba, Dayot Upamecano.
Midfielders: N’Golo Kanté, Manu Koné, Adrien Rabiot, Aurélien Tchouaméni, Warren Zaïre-Emery.
Forwards: Maghnes Akliouche, Bradley Barcola, Rayan Cherki, Ousmane Dembélé, Désiré Doué, Jean-Philippe Mateta, Kylian Mbappé, Michael Olise, Marcus Thuram.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.