Paris will open a new international chapter next week when Zinedine Zidane takes charge of France for the first time, with five uncapped players included in his opening squad for the 2026-27 UEFA Nations League.
Zidane succeeds Didier Deschamps after the end of the 2026 World Cup, bringing an end to a 14-year spell in which France played 185 matches, won 120 of them and lifted the 2018 World Cup in Russia as well as the 2021 Nations League.
The new coach has retained much of the side’s established core. Kylian Mbappé remains captain, while Ousmane Dembélé, Michael Olise, Jules Koundé, Dayot Upamecano and Ibrahima Konaté are among the senior figures selected for the first camp of Zidane’s reign.
Five players set for a first senior call-up
Goalkeeper Guillaume Restes, defenders Jérémy Jacquet and Andy Diouf, midfielder Lucas Da Cunha and forward Estéban Lepaul have all received their first invitations to the senior France set-up.
Eduardo Camavinga returns after missing the 2026 World Cup. Aurélien Tchouaméni is unavailable because of physical discomfort, while Marcus Thuram, Brice Samba, Lucas Digne, Theo Hernández, Lucas Hernández and N’Golo Kanté have not been chosen on this occasion.
Turkey away first for Zidane
France have been drawn with Turkey, Belgium and Italy in their Nations League group. Zidane’s first match in the dugout will come away to Turkey on 25 September, followed by a meeting with Belgium on 28 September.
The following international window takes Les Bleus back to Saint-Denis. Italy visit the Stade de France on 2 October, before Belgium return to Paris for the final match of the sequence on 5 October.
France squad
| Position | Players |
|---|---|
| Goalkeepers | Mike Maignan, Guillaume Restes, Robin Risser |
| Defenders | Andy Diouf, Jérémy Jacquet, Pierre Kalulu, Ibrahima Konaté, Jules Koundé, Maxence Lacroix, Adrien Truffert, Dayot Upamecano |
| Midfielders | Eduardo Camavinga, Rayan Cherki, Lucas Da Cunha, Manu Koné, Adrien Rabiot, Warren Zaïre-Emery |
| Forwards | Bradley Barcola, Ousmane Dembélé, Désiré Doué, Estéban Lepaul, Kylian Mbappé, Michael Olise |
