France

France — Les Bleus — are drawn into Group I alongside Senegal, Iraq, and Norway. As the 2018 World Cup champions and 2022 runners-up, France are among the tournament's top three favorites, powered by Kylian Mbappe — arguably the best player in the world.

The group is manageable. Senegal are Africa's strongest representative after their 2022 AFCON win and Round of 16 appearance in Qatar. Iraq return to the World Cup after 40 years — a powerful story. Norway bring Erling Haaland. But France should dominate.

Why this group matters: France are chasing a third World Cup title, which would tie them with Brazil (5), Germany (4), and Italy (4) among football's all-time greats. The 2022 final loss to Argentina on penalties — despite Mbappe's historic hat trick — left unfinished business.

Senegal on Matchday 1 is the group's marquee match. Iraq on Matchday 2 in Philadelphia is a historic fixture for the Iraqis. Norway on Matchday 3 in Foxborough features the Mbappé vs. Haaland subplot.

France have appeared in 16 FIFA World Cups and won the tournament twice:

• World Cup wins: 1998 (at home, with Zidane's header brace in the final) and 2018 (in Russia, with Mbappe's breakout tournament)
• 2022 runner-up: France lost the final to Argentina on penalties despite Mbappe scoring a hat trick — the first player to do so in a World Cup final since Geoff Hurst in 1966
• Third place: 1958, 1986 (Platini era)
• Defending champion curse: France were eliminated in the group stage in 2002 (defending champions) and 2010, showing that even the most talented French squads can implode
• Icons: Platini, Zidane, Henry, Mbappe — France's lineage of world-class talent is unmatched in European football

The 2022 final — which many consider the greatest World Cup final ever played — is the emotional backdrop for 2026. Mbappe scored three goals and still lost. The hunger to correct that will drive everything.

Didier Deschamps continues as France manager, making the 2026 World Cup his fourth consecutive tournament at the helm. He won the 2018 World Cup, reached the 2022 final, and is the most successful French manager in history.

• Mbappe as the central attacking weapon with freedom to roam
• Defensive solidity — Deschamps' teams concede very few goals in tournaments
• Counter-attacking speed through Mbappe, Dembele, and the wing options
• Midfield control via Tchouameni and experienced campaigners
• Set-piece efficiency — France score regularly from dead balls

Critics say Deschamps plays too conservatively given the attacking talent at his disposal. But his tournament record — final in 2016, winner in 2018, final in 2022 — is unimpeachable.

French football culture explodes during World Cups, transforming a nation that is often divided along social and cultural lines into a unified force.

• 1998 effect: France's home World Cup victory in 1998 — with a multiethnic squad led by Zidane — became a symbol of national unity. The phrase "Black-Blanc-Beur" (Black-White-Arab) captured the aspirational diversity of the team.
• Champs-Elysees celebrations: French World Cup victories and deep runs trigger massive street celebrations on the Champs-Elysees in Paris. An estimated 1.5 million people celebrated the 2018 victory on the avenue.
• Allez les Bleus: The rallying cry of French football, chanted in stadiums, bars, and living rooms across the country and the diaspora.
• Franco-American community: French expats and Francophone communities in New York, Washington DC, and other US cities will provide vocal support.

Why to watch if you are a casual fan: Kylian Mbappe is the most exciting player in football. His speed is breathtaking, his finishing is clinical, and his ability to produce moments of magic in the biggest games is unmatched. The narrative of unfinished business from the 2022 final makes every France match compelling. And the Mbappe-Haaland matchup on Matchday 3 is the dream individual duel.

France will win Group I comfortably, likely with three victories. The expanded format gives them a straightforward path to the Round of 16.

Prediction: Semifinal or Final. France are one of two or three teams capable of winning the tournament. Mbappe, Tchouameni, Saliba, and the supporting cast form one of the deepest squads in the competition. The semifinal is the minimum expectation; the final is the target. Whether they can beat Spain — the other clear favorite — in a potential semifinal or final will likely determine the champion.