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France is aiming to reach a third consecutive World Cup final this summer and has plenty of reason to believe a second triumph in three tournaments is within reach across the United States, Canada and Mexico.
Boasting the most valuable squad at the tournament, France arrives as one of the top contenders to go all the way, yet supporters of Les Bleus will point to the team's history in this competition as a reminder that complacency could prove costly.
Here are four key storylines to follow with France this summer.
Deschamps's Farewell
Didier Deschamps, who lifted the trophy with France in 1998, took over as national team manager in 2012 following a turbulent two-year spell that included an embarrassing group-stage exit at the 2010 World Cup and a forgettable performance at Euro 2012.
Fourteen years on, he will draw the curtain on his France career this summer, having transformed the side into one of the finest in contemporary football. Both the players and Deschamps himself will be fiercely motivated to send him off in style, with the image of him hoisting the World Cup trophy serving as the perfect farewell.
Zinedine Zidane is widely anticipated to step in once Deschamps departs, but that remains a discussion for another day. For now, the sole focus is on delivering a second World Cup title for the manager who revived France from their lowest point 14 years ago.
The Mbappé Show
Kylian Mbappé is no stranger to scrutiny, but the 2025–26 season brought a level of criticism he has seldom had to navigate throughout his illustrious career.
A tally of 42 goals in 44 appearances did little to win over a significant portion of Real Madrid supporters who, as the campaign wore on, began to turn against the star striker amid claims he may have been more of a liability than an asset to the Madrid setup. Accusations of an oversized ego were further fueled by Mbappé's decision to position himself in front of French president Emmanuel Macron in a recent team photograph.
No one is questioning Mbappé's ability, but with many now debating whether his drawbacks outweigh his contributions, the weight of expectation on him has never been greater. Steering France to glory this summer would go a long way toward quieting his detractors.
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Top-Heavy Roster
Mbappé headlines a glittering France attack that possesses extraordinary quality throughout.
Ousmane Dembélé, Michael Olise, Désiré Doué, Bradley Barcola, Rayan Cherki, Marcus Thuram, Maghnes Akliouche and Jean-Philippe Mateta round out what is a truly exceptional collection of attacking talent, though that same level of confidence does not extend to the defensive end.
There are still plenty of high-profile names at the back—William Saliba, Jules Koundé, Dayot Upamecano and Ibrahima Konaté among them—but they have not always functioned as a cohesive unit, and Les Bleus are still searching for their first clean sheet of 2026.
Established nations will back themselves to break France down, while smaller sides may fancy their chances on the counter-attack.
Players vs. Federation
France's meltdown at the 2010 World Cup was rooted in a bitter dispute between the players and the French Football Federation (FFF). While relations between the two sides are far less volatile today, the underlying tension has never fully disappeared.
Four years ago, a group of French players—spearheaded by Mbappé—took on the FFF over image rights, objecting to their likenesses being used to promote gambling and fast food without their consent. Those grievances have resurfaced this year after Cherki, Mbappé, Doué, Olise and Dembélé all unknowingly appeared in yet another gambling advertisement.
That is far from the only sore point within the France camp. Players have previously spoken out against the FFF for failing to shield them from online abuse, and recent reports indicate that several squad members have grown frustrated over attempts to reduce the bonuses owed to them for this summer's World Cup.
For now, there is little to suggest a repeat of the 2010 fallout, but the strained dynamic between the squad and the FFF means the possibility never feels entirely out of reach.