France FRA

Ranked number one in the world by FIFA, France arrive at the 2026 World Cup as the tournament's most feared side on paper, with Didier Deschamps once again at the helm of a squad dripping with elite talent from front to back.

The question hanging over Les Bleus isn't one of quality — it never is. France possess attacking talents that are the envy of the world, and the real intrigue lies in whether Deschamps will finally take the handbrake off and let them shine. The front four is a remarkable quartet, and the back four isn't bad either. Perhaps most dauntingly for opponents, their bench may well be the strongest at the entire tournament.

If there is a vulnerability, a cynic might point the finger at the head coach's conservatism. More accurately, though, the challenge Deschamps faces is the delicate one of fitting all the puzzle pieces together — of harnessing so much individual brilliance into a cohesive, functioning unit.

The names at his disposal are staggering in their depth. Kylian Mbappé and Ousmane Dembélé headline the attacking options, while N'Golo Kanté brings his tireless engine to midfield alongside the exciting young Warren Zaïre-Emery and the highly-rated Rayan Cherki. Mike Maignan guards the goal, William Saliba and Maxence Lacroix anchor the defence, and Malo Gusto and Lucas Digne provide the width at full-back.

France, in short, have every ingredient required to lift the trophy. Whether Deschamps chooses to use them all — and how — will define their tournament.