Ousmane Dembele, Kylian Mbappe and Michael Olise headline a formidable France squad for the enchanting friendlies against Brazil and Colombia. It was the last one Didier Deschamps will name before submitting his final list for the FIFA World Cup 2026™.
Mbappe returned from a knee injury on Tuesday, coming on for Real Madrid in their 2-1 win at Manchester City in the UEFA Champions League. With 55 goals in 94 caps, he is, at the age of only 27, two shy of Olivier Giroud’s France record.
“I’ve been in regular contact with Kylian,” explained Deschamps. “Everything went as planned. It was clear that he wanted to be part of the team.”
Twenty-year-old sensation Desire Doue, playmaker Rayan Cherki and forward Hugo Ekitike were also selected, as was N’Golo Kante, who played a fundamental function in Les Bleus’ Russia 2018 triumph and will turn 35 later this month.
Goalkeeper Lucas Chevalier maintained his place despite having not played for Paris Saint-Germain since January, with Matvei Safonov being preferred by Luis Enrique.
“It’s true that his last match was back in January, and he’s been in a more difficult situation since then,” said Deschamps. “But I’ve often reached out to him – it’s part of building trust. In four months, he hasn’t lost his value.”
Barcelona defender Jules Kounde and Paris Saint-Germain attacker Bradley Barcola missed out through injury.
France squad
Lucas Chevalier
Mike Maignan
Brice Samba
Lucas Digne
Malo Gusto
Lucas Hernandez
Theo Hernandez
Pierre Kalulu
Ibrahima Konate
William Saliba
Dayot Upamecano
Eduardo Camavinga
N’Golo Kante
Manu Kone
Adrien Rabiot
Aurelien Tchouameni
Warren Zaire-Emery
Maghnes Akliouche
Rayan Cherki
Ousmane Dembele
Desire Doue
Hugo Ekitike
Randal Kolo Muani
Kylian Mbappe
Michael Olise
Marcus Thuram
France will battle Brazil at Boston Stadium on Thursday, 26 March, before encountering Colombia at Northwest Stadium Landover five days later.
Brazil and France have become footballing rivals due to their four World Cup collisions. The Seleção triumphed 5-2 in the Sweden 1958 semi-finals, before Les Bleus won on penalties following one of the most exhilarating games in the competition’s history in the Mexico 1986 quarters. Two Zinedine Zidane headers helped deck Ronaldo and Brazil in the 1998 final, before a breathtaking ‘Zizou’ performance propelled France into the Germany 2006 semi-finals. In the teams’ last tussle in 2015, Neymar scored as Brazil emerged 3-1 fightback victors at the Stade de France.
France will open their World Cup account against Senegal at New York New Jersey Stadium. They will then await the FIFA Play-Off Tournament Path B winners at Philadelphia Stadium, before rounding out Group I against Norway at Boston Stadium.
