France national team coach Didier Deschamps has called up 23 players for preparation ahead of the World Cup 2026 qualification matches against Ukraine and Iceland. This is reported by the official website of the French Football Federation.

France National Team Squad

Goalkeepers: Mike Maignan («Milan», Italy), Lucas Chevalier («PSG»), Brice Samba («Rennes»).

Defenders: Lucas Digne («Aston Villa», England), Malo Gusto («Chelsea», England), Theo Hernández («Al-Hilal», Saudi Arabia), Ibrahima Konaté («Liverpool», England), Jules Koundé («Barcelona», Spain), William Saliba («Arsenal», England), Dayot Upamecano («Bayern Munich», Germany), Léo Hernandez («PSG»).

Midfielders: Manu Koné («Roma», Italy), Orel Mangane («Real Madrid», Spain), Herven Mahé («Juventus», Italy), Désiré Diallo («PSG»), Adrien Rabiot («Marseille»).

Forwards: Magne Akliush («Monaco»), Ryan Schrkí («Manchester City», England), Kylian Mbappé («Real Madrid», Spain), Michael Olise («Bayern Munich», Germany), Marcus Thuram («Inter», Italy), Bredley Barkley, Ousmane Dembélé (both — «PSG»).

Recall that the match between Ukraine and France in the World Cup 2026 qualification will take place on September 5th at «Tychy Arena Wrocław» in Wrocław, Poland. The game against Iceland will be held by the French team on September 9th at «Parc des Princes» in Paris.

World Cup 2026 Qualification in UEFA Zone. First Round

Group A: Germany, Slovakia, Northern Ireland, Luxembourg.

Group B: Switzerland, Sweden, Slovenia, Kosovo.

Group C: Denmark, Greece, Scotland, Belarus.

Group D: France,  Ukraine, Iceland, Azerbaijan.

Group E: Spain, Turkey, Georgia, Bulgaria.

Group F: Portugal, Hungary, Ireland, Armenia.

Group G: Netherlands, Poland, Finland, Lithuania, Malta.

Group H: Austria, Romania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Cyprus, San Marino.

Group I: Italy, Norway, Israel, Estonia, Moldova.

Group J: Belgium, Wales, North Macedonia, Kazakhstan, Liechtenstein.

Group K: England, Serbia, Albania, Latvia, Andorra.

Group L: Croatia, Czech Republic, Montenegro,  Faroe Islands, Gibraltar.

Schedule of Group D Matches

Round 1. September 5th, 2025

Ukraine — France 9:45 PM, Wrocław

Iceland — Azerbaijan 9:45 PM, Reykjavík

Round 2. September 9th, 2025

Azerbaijan — Ukraine 6:00 PM, Baku

France — Iceland 9:45 PM, Paris

Round 3. October 10th, 2025

Iceland — Ukraine 9:45 PM, Reykjavík

France — Azerbaijan 9:45 PM, Paris

Round 4. October 13th, 2025

Ukraine — Azerbaijan 9:45 PM

Iceland — France 9:45 PM, Reykjavík

Round 5. November 13th, 2025

Azerbaijan — Iceland 6:00 PM, Baku

France — Ukraine 9:45 PM, Paris

Round 6. November 16th, 2025

Ukraine — Iceland 6:00 PM

Azerbaijan — France 6:00 PM, Baku

Kyiv time.

UEFA (Europe): 16 spots.

Qualification in the European zone will take place from March 2025 to March 2026 and consist of two rounds. Teams will compete for 16 World Cup spots.

First round: Twelve groups with five or four teams each will play between March and November 2025 in a traditional group stage system. The twelve group winners will receive direct tickets to the final stage.

The twelve second-placed teams, along with the four best group winners from UEFA Nations League 2024/2025 who finish below second place in the European qualification group stage, will participate in knockout mini-tournaments.

Second round: Knockout mini-tournaments in March 2026 will consist of one-legged semi-finals and finals. The sixteen participants will be divided into four playoff paths. Four winners will receive World Cup 2026 spots.

AFC (Asia): 8 spots + 1 place in the intercontinental playoffs.

CAF (Africa): 9 spots + 1 place in the intercontinental playoffs.

CONCACAF (North and Central America): 3 tournament hosts + 3 spots + 2 places in the intercontinental playoffs.

CONMEBOL (South America): 6 spots + 1 place in the intercontinental playoffs.

OFC (Oceania): 1 spot + 1 place in the intercontinental playoffs.

Intercontinental Playoffs: 2 spots.

World Cup 2026. Final Tournament

The World Cup 2026 will be the first in history to feature 48 national teams in its final stage. Twelve groups of four teams each will be formed. The top two teams from each group and eight best third-placed teams will advance to the round of 16.

Matches of the 23rd World Cup will take place in 16 cities. These are: Toronto and Vancouver in Canada, Guadalajara, Mexico City, and Monterrey in Mexico, Atlanta, Boston, Dallas, Houston, Kansas City, Los Angeles, Miami, New York, Philadelphia, San Francisco, and Seattle in the USA.

The opening match of the World Cup will take place on June 11th, 2026 in Mexico City, while the final will be held in New York on July 19th.

World Cup 2026 Final Tournament Schedule