France U21 manager Gérald Baticle has unveiled his official squad for the upcoming UEFA Euro U21 2027 qualifying campaign, headlined by the historic first-ever selection of Ethan Mbappé. Released by the French Football Federation (FFF), the roster announcement comes as the Bleuets prepare to contest four crucial fixtures between September 25 and October 6, 2026, looking to cement their grip on Group C.
The Squad Breakdown: New Faces and Core Talents
Baticle’s squad selection features a blend of established youth internationals and exciting breakthrough talents making their mark in Ligue 1 and beyond. L’Yonne Républicaine confirmed that Auxerre captain Kevin Danois has also earned a deserved place in the squad following strong performances at club level.
The complete squad selected by the coaching staff covers every position across the pitch:
- Goalkeepers: Ewen Jaouen, Matthieu Patouillet, Issiaka Touré
- Defenders: Jaydee Canvot, Joane Gadou, Ismaëlo Ganiou, Saël Kumbedi, Christian Mawissa, Dayann Methalie, Lény Yoro, Nathan Zézé
- Midfielders: Valentin Atangana, Darryl Bakola, Aladji Bamba, Saïmon Bouabré, Kévin Danois, Noé Lebreton, Lesley Ugochukwu
- Forwards: Jean-Mattéo Bahoya, Tidiam Gomis, Senny Mayulu, Ethan Mbappé, Steve Ngoura, Mathys Tel, Giovani Versini
Group C Standings and Qualification Stakes
France currently sits at the summit of Group C in the Euro U21 2027 preliminaries, accumulating 16 points and a +17 goal differential through their opening matches, according to official FFF records. Switzerland sits close behind in second place with 14 points, followed by Iceland with 11 points, the Faroe Islands with 9 points, Luxembourg with 4 points, and Estonia with 2 points. The group’s top nine and the best second-place team will qualify for the phase finale with Albania and Serbia, alongside two other teams in play-offs in November 2026.
Upcoming Fixtures and Match Schedule
The Bleuets face a grueling and decisive stretch of four matches across less than two weeks in late September and early October. According to the official calendar published by the FFF, the schedule is as follows:
- September 25, 2026 (17:00 UTC): Iceland vs. France (Reykjavík)
- September 29, 2026 (18:00 UTC): Estonia vs. France (Pärnu)
- October 3, 2026 (19:00 UTC): France vs. Luxembourg (Orléans)
- October 6, 2026 (19:00 UTC): France vs. Switzerland (Orléans)
With back-to-back home fixtures at Orléans to round out the block, Baticle’s squad has a prime opportunity to secure vital points in front of home supporters and maintain their cushion at the top of Group C.
Worth a look
