France continues dominant run in World Cup, eyes semi-finals berth

By Arjun Nair / 10.07.2026

By Arjun Nair — 10 July 2026 — 3 min read

France’s dominant World Cup campaign

The France national team has continued its strong performance in the FIFA 2026 World Cup, securing a spot in the semi-finals after a 2-0 victory over Morocco. This win further solidifies France’s position as a formidable contender in the tournament, with many observing their dominant play throughout the competition. The team’s consistent success has led to discussions about its potential to be considered among the best international teams in history.

This level of performance is not new for France. The team previously won the World Cup in 2018 and reached the final in 2022, where they were runners-up to Argentina. These past achievements have built up to their current campaign, where they are demonstrating significant strength across all positions.

While France appears to be in strong form, some teams are considered to have a chance, albeit slim, at challenging them. On a favourable day, teams such as Argentina, Spain, or England might be able to compete with Les Bleus. There is also a possibility that Norway could cause an upset if conditions are ideal and they play opportunistically. However, it seems it would require a perfect effort from an opponent and a significant downturn in France’s performance for them to be defeated.

Squad depth and key players

The 2026 France World Cup squad arrived at the tournament with high expectations, featuring some of the world’s top players from leading club teams. The roster includes prominent names such as Kylian Mbappé, Ousmane Dembélé, and Michael Olise, contributing to France being among the betting favourites to win the 2026 World Cup, alongside Spain.

The 26-player squad represents various club teams across Europe and beyond. A majority of the players, eight, play for clubs in the French Ligue 1. Six players are from English Premier League clubs, while both Italian Serie A and Spanish LaLiga each contribute three players. The German Bundesliga has two players, and the Saudi Pro League and Turkish Süper Lig each have one player on the squad.

Paris Saint-Germain is the most represented club, with five players on the France World Cup squad. Other clubs with multiple representatives include Real Madrid, AC Milan, Bayern Munich, and Crystal Palace, each contributing two players. Key players to watch during France’s tournament run include Mbappé, Dembélé, Olise, Jules Koundé, N’Golo Kanté, Désiré Doué, and Marcus Thuram.

The full list of players by position includes:

• Goalkeepers: Mike Maignan (AC Milan), Brice Samba (Rennes), Robin Risser (Lens)
• Defenders: Dayot Upamecano (Bayern Munich), William Saliba (Arsenal), Lucas Digne (Aston Villa), Theo Hernandez (Al-Hilal), Lucas Hernandez (PSG), Ibrahima Konaté (Liverpool), Jules Koundé (Barcelona), Malo Gusto (Chelsea), Maxence Lacroix (Crystal Palace)
• Midfielders: N’Golo Kanté (Fenerbahce), Adrien Rabiot (AC Milan), Manu Koné (Roma), Aurélien Tchouaméni (Real Madrid), Warren Zaïre-Emery (PSG)
• Forwards: Maghnes Akliouche (Monaco), Kylian Mbappé (Real Madrid), Ousmane Dembélé (PSG), Michael Olise (Bayern Munich), Désiré Doué (PSG), Bradley Barcola (PSG), Rayan Cherki (Manchester City), Marcus Thuram (Inter Milan), Jean-Philippe Mateta (Crystal Palace)

Tournament journey and expectations

France’s journey in the 2026 World Cup saw them placed in Group I alongside Senegal, Norway, and Iraq. Their group stage schedule included matches against Senegal on June 16, Iraq on June 22, and Norway on June 26. They then progressed through the knockout rounds, facing Sweden on June 30 and Paraguay on July 4, before their quarter-final match against Morocco on July 9.

With a history of two World Cup victories in 1998 and 2014, and two runner-up finishes in 2006 and 2022, France carries significant expectations into this tournament. Many players on the current squad have either won the competition or played in a final, making anything less than a deep run likely to be considered a disappointment for the team and its supporters.

The French national team’s strong roster and consistent performance have positioned them as a leading contender, with their recent victory over Morocco on July 9 further advancing their campaign.

Source: bavarianfootballworks.com