Eduardo Camavinga will not be part of France’s squad for the 2026 World Cup, marking the end of a prolonged period of uncertainty surrounding his international future. The Real Madrid midfielder, who struggled throughout the past season, was notably excluded from the 26-man roster announced by Didier Deschamps.
The decision had been foreshadowed during the recent international break, when Camavinga was the only outfield player not to start in either of France’s friendlies against Brazil and Croatia. This omission signaled Deschamps’ intentions well before the official squad reveal.
France’s Midfield Choices for the World Cup
In place of Camavinga, Deschamps has opted for a midfield lineup featuring Aurélien Tchouaméni and N’Golo Kanté as the primary holding midfielders. The interior midfield roles will be filled by Adrien Rabiot, Warren Zaïre-Emery, and Youssouf Fofana. This five-player midfield group reflects the coach’s current strategy, leaving Camavinga out of contention for the tournament.
The final squad also includes three goalkeepers—Mike Maignan (AC Milan), Robin Risser (Lens), and Brice Samba (Rennes)—and a robust defensive contingent. Defenders named to the squad are Lucas Digne (Aston Villa), Malo Gusto (Chelsea), Lucas Hernández (PSG), Theo Hernández (Al-Hilal), Ibrahima Konaté (Liverpool), Jules Koundé (Barcelona), Maxence Lacroix (Crystal Palace), William Saliba (Arsenal), and Dayot Upamecano (Bayern Munich).