The French team is entering a new era. As the 2026 World Cup approaches, a list of 26 players emerges if we eliminate all favoritism and keep only one criterion: pure performance. This selection reshapes the face of the Blues. The AI provides a surprising answer with… a returning player.
In goal, there are no surprises: Maignan remains a wall, Samba confirms, and Chevalier, young but already solid in selection, establishes himself as the future of the position. In defense, the pairing becomes a fortress with Konaté, Upamecano, and Saliba, while the Hernandez brothers secure the flanks. On the right, Malo Gusto stands out as the revelation: modern, fast, and incisive, he has swept away the competition.
In midfield, it is the new French power: Tchouaméni – Camavinga as the engine, Zaïre-Emery as the accelerator, and Manu Koné as the aggressive recoverer. The return of Kanté adds an essential touch of experience. Khéphren Thuram completes this midfield with his volume and projections.
Rabiot excluded for Griezmann
The AI has excluded players like Adrien Rabiot to recall… Antoine Griezmann. Deschamps, a fan of surprises, could he take this gamble? Knowing that the player has yet to receive his retirement tribute… Mistake or visionary? It seems unlikely, given Rabiot’s value to Deschamps. The AI also forgets… Désiré Doué. He will likely be in the squad if he recovers by next June.
Olise, Cherki, Akliouche… The AI goes all out on attack
But it is in attack that the revolution takes full shape. Mbappé and Dembélé remain the headliners, but around them is a generation of artists: Olise, Barcola, Cherki, Akliouche. Percussion, creativity, audacity: the Blues regain profiles capable of inventing, igniting a spark with every ball.
To complete the offensive sector, Ekitiké, Kolo Muani, and Mateta offer three different number 9 profiles, perfect for adapting to any match. Mateta would therefore be preferred over Marcus Thuram. Florian Thauvin would narrowly miss the World Cup.
In the end, this list of 26 follows a simple logic: only the best at the moment remain. No imposed seniority, no immutable status. Just talent, form, and real impact on the field. A hybrid team, between undeniable veterans and new stars, that could well offer France a high-intensity 2026 World Cup and a more creative game than ever.
Here is the AI’s list of 26 for France at the 2026 World Cup, with these new additions.
GOALKEEPERS (3)
1. Mike Maignan
2. Brice Samba
3. Lucas Chevalier
DEFENDERS (7)
4. Jules Koundé
5. Malo Gusto
6. Ibrahima Konaté
7. Dayot Upamecano
8. William Saliba
9. Lucas Hernandez
10. Théo Hernandez
MIDFIELDERS (7)
11. Aurélien Tchouaméni
12. Eduardo Camavinga
13. Warren Zaïre-Emery
14. Manu Koné
15. N’Golo Kanté
16. Khéphren Thuram
17. Antoine Griezmann
FORWARDS / OFFENSIVE PLAYERS (9)
18. Kylian Mbappé
19. Ousmane Dembélé
20. Michael Olise
21. Bradley Barcola
22. Rayan Cherki
23. Maghnes Akliouche
24. Hugo Ekitiké
25. Randal Kolo Muani
26. Jean-Philippe Mateta
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