Zinedine Zidane Announces First France Squad: Kylian Mbappe Named Captain, 5 New Faces Called Up Including Como’s Lucas Da Cunha

Zidane’s First France Squad and the UEFA Nations League Schedule

According to reports from international coverage, Zidane’s newly chosen squad is set to assemble at Clairefontaine on Monday to prepare for four upcoming international matches. Les Bleus face a busy autumn calendar starting with an away fixture against Turkiye on September 25, followed by a trip to Belgium on September 28. France then returns home to host Italy at the Stade de France on October 2, before concluding this stretch with a second fixture against Belgium on October 5.

The 1998 World Cup winner has retained a strong core of regular internationals while injecting fresh blood into the setup. Alongside the newcomers, several veterans have missed out on selection, setting a distinct tone for the post-Deschamps era.

Lucas Da Cunha and the Five New Faces

The headline inclusion of Zidane’s debut roster is Como 1907 midfielder Lucas Da Cunha. According to match reports, Da Cunha has developed into a central figure in Cesc Fabregas’s Como squad since joining the Italian club in January 2023.

Da Cunha is joined by four other players receiving their first senior call-ups:

• Jeremy Jacquet: The defender earned his spot following a strong start to the season with Liverpool.
• Esteban Lepaul: The Rennes forward earned a selection after finishing as Ligue 1’s top goalscorer last season and maintaining his scoring form into the new campaign.
• Andy Diouf: The Inter Milan full-back was called up to replace the injured Malo Gusto following impressive club displays.
• Guillaume Restes: The Toulouse goalkeeper stepped into the squad in place of Brice Samba.

Additionally, defender Adrien Truffert returns to the French national setup after a five-year absence.

Senior Absences and Squad Restructuring

Zidane’s initial roster decisions also involved omitting several established names. Midfielder N’Golo Kanté, along with defenders Lucas Hernandez, Theo Hernandez, and Lucas Digne, were left out of the 23-man group. While French media heavily linked veteran striker Karim Benzema to a potential return under Zidane, the former Real Madrid coach ultimately opted not to recall the forward.

At the same time, players who featured prominently in past major tournaments—including Eduardo Camavinga, Warren Zaïre-Emery, Rayan Cherki, Ibrahima Konaté, and Manu Koné—return to reinforce the squad.

Full France Squad for September and October 2026

Goalkeepers: Mike Maignan (AC Milan), Robin Risser (Lens), Guillaume Restes (Toulouse)

Forwards: Kylian Mbappe (Real Madrid), Ousmane Dembele (Paris Saint-Germain), Michael Olise (Bayern Munich), Desire Doue (Paris Saint-Germain), Bradley Barcola (Liverpool), Estéban Lepaul (Rennes)

Les Bleus will gather at Clairefontaine on Monday to begin training ahead of their opening fixture against Turkiye.