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The French national team is expected to replicate their success from the previous two editions at the 2026 World Cup.

France carries an enormous weight of expectations, as their performances and results in the 2018 and 2022 World Cups have become the benchmark for success.

This sentiment was expressed by France’s head coach, Didier Deschamps.

Deschamps addressed the high hopes surrounding his team ahead of the 2026 World Cup.

Expectations among fans in Paris and across the world have soared dramatically.

This surge follows the exceptional performances delivered by Kylian Mbappe and his teammates over the past eight years, particularly in the two most recent World Cup tournaments.

It all began with France’s triumph at the 2018 World Cup in Russia, where they claimed the title after defeating Croatia 4-2 in the final.

That victory laid the foundation for the lofty standards now associated with the French national team.

Their dominance was reaffirmed when they reached back-to-back finals at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.

Although Les Bleus ultimately fell short in a dramatic penalty shootout against Argentina, they earned widespread admiration from supporters and observers worldwide.

Statistics highlight that across the last two World Cups, France won 11 out of 14 matches played in regular time.

The attacking power of Les Bleus was equally remarkable, with 14 goals scored in 2018 and an even more impressive 16 goals during the 2022 tournament.

These stellar records have led millions of loyal fans to believe that reaching the final in the 2026 World Cup is no longer a mere aspiration but an absolute expectation.

Once again, France enters the tournament as one of the favourites to lift the World Cup trophy in North America this year.

“We’ve raised expectations through the results we’ve achieved,” Deschamps said, as quoted on FIFA’s official website.

“We lifted the trophy in 2018 and reached the final in 2022, so our fans naturally expect France to remain in contention until mid-July.”

“We are one of 10 or 12 nations that can realistically aim for the world title.”

“But do you know how many will be left at the end of the tournament?”

“Only one! That means at least 11 nations will be disappointed,” he concluded.

Deschamps’ remarks about the elite group of 12 nations are quite fitting, considering the current FIFA rankings and the balance of power among global heavyweights.

Countries such as Argentina, Brazil, England, Spain, and Norway boast squads as deep and talented as France’s.

Moreover, the new 2026 World Cup format, featuring 48 participating nations, is set to make the road to the title even longer and more demanding.

The number of matches required to reach the final has increased from seven to eight due to the addition of a round of 32.

Physical fatigue and the climatic conditions across North America are also expected to pose significant challenges that could upend even the most confident predictions.

Currently, France holds a favourable advantage with an average squad age in the golden range of productivity — between 25 and 27 years old.