France national team: Karim Benzema opens the door to the 2026 World Cup. Will Didier Deschamps call him back?
Karim Benzema has not said his last word with Les Bleus. At 37, still performing with Al Ittihad, the former Ballon d’Or winner has clearly put himself forward for a return to the France squad with the 2026 World Cup in mind. Without mincing words, he says: “If I’m called to play in a World Cup and I say no, I’m a liar.”
Benzema ready for a 2026 World Cup return
Three years after announcing his international retirement in a murky context, the striker is reopening a file that was never truly closed. Doha 2022 remains a scar, but Benzema insists on looking ahead: “That’s in the past.” On the pitch, the numbers speak for him: 11 goals in 12 matches this season, two hat-tricks, and fully restored physical condition.
With the French attack being rebuilt after the retirements of Giroud and Griezmann, his profile as an experienced center-forward inevitably fuels debate.
One major obstacle remains: Didier Deschamps, reluctant to reignite a media firestorm six months before the World Cup. A comeback would only be possible in an extreme scenario. One thing is certain: Benzema is ready, and he has made it known. Whether Deschamps, still shaken by the Doha affair, would be willing to recall KB9 is another matter. Not necessarily…
Related Posts:
