France announces squad for 2026 World Cup qualifiers: new face included
The French national team has revealed its 23-man squad for the 2026 World Cup qualifiers against Ukraine and Iceland. Coach Didier Deschamps included one new player: Maghnes Akliouche, from Monaco.
Next Matches for France
France, absent from the pitch since their 2-0 defeat to Germany in the 2024-25 Nations League Finals, will return to action in early September.
- Ukraine vs France – Friday, September 5, 3:45 p.m. (Brasília time), away from home
- France vs Iceland – Tuesday, September 9, 3:45 p.m. (Brasília time), at Parc des Princes, Paris
Full 23-Man Squad
Goalkeepers: Chevalier (PSG), Maignan (Milan), Samba (Rennes)
Defenders: Koundé (Barcelona), Konaté (Liverpool), Upamecano (Bayern Munich), Saliba (Arsenal), Theo Hernández (Milan), Lucas Hernández (PSG), Digne (Aston Villa), Malo Gusto (Chelsea)
Midfielders: Manu Koné (Roma), Tchouaméni (Real Madrid), Rabiot (Olympique Marseille), Khéphren Thuram (Juventus), Désiré Doué (PSG)
Forwards: Dembélé (PSG), Marcus Thuram (Inter Milan), Rayan Cherki (Manchester City), Barcola (PSG), Kylian Mbappé (Real Madrid), Maghnes Akliouche (Monaco), Michael Olise (Bayern Munich)
Who is Maghnes Akliouche?
The big surprise on the list is Maghnes Akliouche, a 23-year-old midfielder from Monaco. Born in Tremblay-en-France, Akliouche also holds Algerian nationality but opted to play for France.
A product of Monaco’s academy, he previously played for Villemomble (2008–2014) and Torcy (2014–2017) before joining Monaco in 2017. He turned professional in 2021 and recently won a silver medal with France’s Olympic team at the 2024 Paris Games.
Deschamps’ Challenge
With the qualifiers kicking off, Deschamps aims to blend experienced stars like Kylian Mbappé and Aurélien Tchouaméni with emerging talents such as Akliouche and Désiré Doué, as France begins its journey toward the 2026 World Cup.
