In just over three weeks, they will be on American soil. Didier Deschamps revealed the names of the 26 players selected for the 2026 World Cup with the French team on Thursday, May 14th. An eagerly anticipated stage, symbolically marking the beginning of the adventure for the French team, which hopes to win its third star at the end of the tournament, held from June 11th to July 19th in the United States, Canada, and Mexico.
After the relief for some, and the joy for others, of being part of the squad, everyone will now turn their attention to this major opportunity. Placed in Group I, France will face tough opponents including Senegal, Iraq, and Norway. The team of Didier Deschamps – back at the top of the FIFA rankings for the first time since 2018 – will need to be ready from the start.
What are the next key dates in the preparation of the French team? The serious preparations will begin on May 29th, the day the squad gathers at Clairefontaine, considering that the different championships will conclude by Sunday, May 24th.
Two friendly matches in France in early June
If Jean-Philippe Mateta and Maxence Lacroix (Crystal Palace) are expected to be present, six players, including Parisians (Ousmane Dembele, Doudou, Bradley Barcola, Warren Zaire-Emery, and Lucas Hernandez), and the Arsenal defender William Saliba, will join the team at the start of June after playing the Champions League final on May 30th in Budapest.
Next, there will be two friendly matches in France: first against Ivory Coast in Nantes on June 4th (9:10 pm), then against Northern Ireland in Lille on June 8th (9:10 pm). The departure for Boston, where the team has set up their base at the Four Seasons hotel in the city center, is scheduled for June 10th, ensuring the team, including Kylian Mbappe, is on American soil when the competition officially begins with the Mexico-South Africa opening match the following day.
The team will need to adjust to the time difference and build up momentum before their first match on June 16th in New York against Senegal, the former African champions. Then, Iraq on June 22nd in Philadelphia (5 pm), and Norway on June 26th in Boston (3 pm) will be the next challenges for the French team as they aim to reach the round of 16.
Follow all the FIFA World Cup matches live and streaming on M6+.
Key Dates to Remember
– Gathering at Clairefontaine: May 29th – Friendly Match 1: France vs. Ivory Coast, June 4th at 9:10 pm in Nantes – Friendly Match 2: France vs. Northern Ireland, June 8th in Lille – Departure for Boston: June 10th – World Cup – Matchday 1: France vs. Senegal, June 16th at 9:00 pm at MetLife Stadium in New York (USA), on M6 – World Cup – Matchday 2: France vs. Iraq, June 22nd at 11:00 pm at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia (USA), on M6 – World Cup – Matchday 3: Norway vs. France, June 26th at 9:00 pm at Gillette Stadium in Boston (USA), on M6.
