Zinedine Zidane has named his first France squad as head coach, selecting a 23-man group for the opening 2026–27 UEFA Nations League window and leaving out 11 players who featured at the World Cup.
Zidane succeeded Didier Deschamps after France finished fourth at the 2026 World Cup. Les Bleus lost to eventual champions Spain in the semi-finals before being beaten by England in the third-place play-off.
The former Real Madrid coach will lead France into Nations League matches against Turkey, Belgium twice and Italy. Zidane confirmed that Kylian Mbappé will remain captain as he begins his first senior international role.
The squad includes five uncapped players: goalkeepers Guillaume Restes and Robin Risser, defenders Andy Diouf and Jérémy Jacquet, and midfielder Lucas Da Cunha.
World Cup regulars Lucas Hernández, Theo Hernández, Lucas Digne, Malo Gusto and Maghnes Akliouche have been omitted by choice, while goalkeeper Brice Samba has been passed over for Restes.
Other absences are linked to injury or fitness considerations. Arsenal defender William Saliba, Inter forward Marcus Thuram and Jean-Philippe Mateta are unavailable through injury, while Aurélien Tchouaméni has been left out as a precaution after recently returning from a muscle problem.
Zidane has selected a defensive group led by Ibrahima Konaté, Jules Koundé and Dayot Upamecano. They are joined by Inter’s Andy Diouf, Liverpool’s Jérémy Jacquet, Juventus defender Pierre Kalulu, Chelsea’s Maxence Lacroix, Bournemouth’s Adrien Truffert and Bayern Munich’s Upamecano.
In midfield, Zidane has recalled Eduardo Camavinga and named Rayan Cherki, Lucas Da Cunha, Manu Koné, Adrien Rabiot and Warren Zaïre-Emery.
Mbappé leads the forward line alongside Liverpool’s Bradley Barcola, Paris Saint-Germain pair Ousmane Dembélé and Désiré Doué, Rennes striker Estéban Lepaul and Bayern Munich winger Michael Olise.
Zidane said the selection of younger players was designed to help France evolve while maintaining the squad’s competitive standards.
“We have chosen players who can bring freshness and who have a future with the French team,” Zidane said. “The objective is always to win, but we also need to build and prepare for what is ahead.”
