France at the 2026 FIFA World Cup
Les Bleus compete in Group F at the 2026 FIFA World Cup. Manager Didier Deschamps, captain Kylian Mbappé. UEFA qualifier.
France's outlook at the 2026 FIFA World Cup
Ranked inside the FIFA top 10, France arrives in the United States, Canada, and Mexico as one of the genuine title contenders. Bookmakers and pundits have them in the conversation alongside the rest of the elite.
France is the highest-ranked side in Group F (avg. opponent rank #34). They are expected to top the group, but Japan and Ivory Coast are realistic challengers.
The 2026 tournament uses an expanded 48-team, 12-group format with a new Round of 32. That changes the maths for France: the top two from each group plus the eight best third-placed teams advance, so even a third-place finish in Group F is often enough to reach the knockouts. The first France match of the World Cup is scheduled for Saturday, June 13 against Japan at NRG Stadium.
Group F draw analysis
FIFA Ranking, confederation, and last-appearance finish for every team France face in Group F.
| Team | FIFA Rank | Confederation |
|---|---|---|
| France (this page) | #2 | UEFA |
| Japan | #15 | AFC |
| Ivory Coast | #39 | CAF |
| Costa Rica | #48 | CONCACAF |
France 2026 World Cup fixtures
Players to watch
Get every player's stats - goals, assists, cards, minutes, xG - via the player stats endpoint for competition_id={COMPETITION_ID}.
France World Cup history
France are a former World Champion ((1998, 2018)). With 17 previous FIFA World Cup appearances, they remain one of the most experienced sides in the tournament. Recent form across the last five editions: Runner-up, Champions, R16, QF, Group.
Get France data via API
// Fetch France World Cup 2026 matches
const response = await fetch(
'https://api.thestatsapi.com/api/football/matches?competition_id={COMPETITION_ID}&team=france',
{ headers: { 'Authorization': 'Bearer YOUR_API_KEY' } }
);
const { data } = await response.json();Frequently Asked Questions
What group is France in at the 2026 World Cup?
France is in Group F alongside Japan, Ivory Coast, Costa Rica. The average opponent FIFA ranking in Group F is #34.
Who is France's manager at the 2026 World Cup?
Didier Deschamps manages France at the 2026 FIFA World Cup, with Kylian Mbappé as captain.
What is France's best World Cup finish?
France's best FIFA World Cup finish is Champions (1998, 2018). They have appeared in 17 previous World Cup tournaments. Recent form: Runner-up, Champions, R16, QF, Group.
Who are France's key players at the 2026 World Cup?
Captain Kylian Mbappé leads a squad whose standout names include Kylian Mbappé, Antoine Griezmann, Aurélien Tchouaméni. The full 26-player squad is named approximately one week before the opening match.
How did France qualify for the 2026 World Cup?
UEFA qualifier. They came through the UEFA qualifying pathway.
What is France's current FIFA Ranking?
France are ranked #2 in the world by FIFA at the time of the 2026 World Cup draw. Ranked inside the FIFA top 10, France arrives in the United States, Canada, and Mexico as one of the genuine title contenders. Bookmakers and pundits have them in the conversation alongside the rest of the elite.
What are France's chances of winning the 2026 World Cup?
France is the highest-ranked side in Group F (avg. opponent rank #34). They are expected to top the group, but Japan and Ivory Coast are realistic challengers. Ranked inside the FIFA top 10, France arrives in the United States, Canada, and Mexico as one of the genuine title contenders. Bookmakers and pundits have them in the conversation alongside the rest of the elite.
How can I get France fixtures and stats via API?
Use TheStatsAPI matches endpoint with competition_id={COMPETITION_ID} and filter by team_id to get all France World Cup 2026 fixtures, lineups, live scores, in-play events, xG, and player-level stats. The same endpoint also returns historical World Cup data for France going back to their first tournament.
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