AFCON 2025
France national team coach Didier Deschamps has left out Real Madrid midfielder Eduardo Camavinga and Paris Saint-Germain goalkeeper Lucas Chevalier from the country’s final squad for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
The tournament, set to hold from June 11 to July 19 in Canada, Mexico, and the United States, will see France chase a third world title, but the squad announcement on Thursday featured several surprise omissions.
Camavinga, who was part of the team that finished second at the last World Cup in Qatar and appeared as a substitute in the final against Argentina, was excluded after a season affected by injuries and limited playing time.
Deschamps explained that form and fitness played a key role in the decision.
“He had a difficult season for him where he played less. He also had injuries,” the coach said.
“He is still a young player, but I have to balance the squad across all departments. I understand his disappointment.”
Goalkeeper Lucas Chevalier also missed out after falling down the pecking order at PSG and not featuring regularly in recent months.
“The main criteria is sporting performance,” Deschamps said. “He hasn’t played for several months. At the time he could have had minutes, he didn’t get them.”
In his place, Deschamps included Robin Risser, who has enjoyed a breakout season with Lens and earned recognition as one of Ligue 1’s standout goalkeepers.
Risser has been selected as third-choice goalkeeper behind Mike Maignan and Brice Samba following an impressive campaign that helped Lens finish with one of the best defensive records in the league.
France enter the tournament among the favourites, but the exclusion of Camavinga and Chevalier is expected to generate debate over Deschamps’ final selection choices.
