France have joined the ranks of nations finalizing their 26-man squads for the 2026 World Cup. Following Thursday’s announcement, manager Didier Deschamps was immediately questioned regarding the omission of Real Madrid midfielder Eduardo Camavinga, who was the most notable absentee from the final roster.
“Camavinga out of the World Cup squad? He is coming off a difficult season where he lacked consistency due to a string of injuries,” Deschamps told the media. “He is still young, but I have difficult choices to make and a specific structure required for this list.”
Camavinga isn’t the only familiar face missing from the 2022 runner-up squad, as Deschamps opted for a significant refresh. While the gaffer leaned on his established core, the team suffered a late blow with the loss of Hugo Ekitike, who was ruled out of the tournament after sustaining an injury just weeks ago.
France enter the North American circuit looking to reach a third consecutive World Cup final. After hoisting the trophy in Russia 2018 and falling just short in Qatar 2022—losing to Argentina in arguably the greatest match in the sport’s history—the expectations for this French side remain sky-high.
Camavinga’s grueling campaign
In analyzing Deschamps’ decision, the numbers tell the story of a frustrating year for Camavinga at the Santiago Bernabeu. Beyond Real Madrid’s rare trophyless season, the midfielder struggled to find a rhythm under Alvaro Arbeloa’s management, largely due to persistent fitness issues.
The primary factor behind the snub was Camavinga’s diminished role in La Liga. Plagued by a lingering ankle injury, he averaged just 55 minutes per appearance across 22 league games, managing only a single goal and one assist, output that ultimately wasn’t enough to secure his seat on the plane.
The new guard: Manu Kone gets the nod
While Camavinga is forced to watch the tournament from home, Inter Milan’s Manu Kone has emerged as the primary beneficiary of the roster shakeup. Kone forced Deschamps’ hand following a breakout season in Italy, where he tallied two goals and two assists across 40 appearances while providing a dominant defensive presence in the Inter midfield.
Despite the roster shifts, France remain a heavy favorite with Kylian Mbappe leading the charge alongside Ousmane Dembele. With Dembele entering the tournament as the reigning Ballon d’Or winner, France boast arguably the most lethal attacking duo in world football heading into the World Cup.
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Will France reach the final for third consecutive time in North America?
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