The newly appointed manager announced his selections on Friday, September 18, 2026, setting the stage for a demanding autumn schedule across Europe.
Zidane’s First Squad Balances Core Veterans with Fresh Talent
Taking charge for his inaugural international window, Zidane has opted to blend the core of France’s recent major tournaments with unexpected additions. While mainstays like Kylian Mbappé—who was promptly confirmed as national team captain—Ousmane Dembélé, and Adrien Rabiot retain their places, the former Real Madrid coach has stepped away from several stalwarts of the Didier Deschamps era. Alongside Kanté, players such as Aurélien Tchouameni and the Hernandez brothers missed out on the initial 23-man roster.
“On va faire différent,” Zidane noted during his July unveiling, signaling a shift in approach that materialized with five new faces entering Clairefontaine. The roster features Rennes forward Estéban Lepaul, Liverpool central defender Jérémy Jacquet, Como midfielder Lucas Da Cunha, Toulouse goalkeeper Guillaume Restes, and Inter Milan defender Andy Diouf.
The New Faces Drawing Zidane’s Eye
At 26 years old, Estéban Lepaul breaks into the senior squad after leading the Ligue 1 scoring charts last season with 21 goals for Rennes. Zidane praised the forward’s distinct profile, highlighting his effectiveness in tight spaces. Meanwhile, 21-year-old Jérémy Jacquet earns his first senior selection following a high-profile summer transfer from Rennes to Liverpool, where he has quickly secured a regular starting role under the Reds’ management.
Lucas Da Cunha, a 25-year-old left-footed midfielder operating at Italian side Como under Cesc Fàbregas, returns to the national setup for the first time since his U-19 appearances in 2019. In the goalkeeping department, Guillaume Restes takes a spot alongside Mike Maignan and Robin Risser, with former national team goalkeeper Fabien Barthez joining the staff as goalkeeping coach.
A Heavy Nations League Schedule Awaits
France faces a rigorous block of four Nations League matches packed into a compressed 15-day window. The Les Bleus campaign begins away against Turkey on September 25, followed by a trip to face Belgium on September 28. Zidane’s squad will then return home to host Italy at the Stade de France on October 2 before concluding this stretch against Belgium on October 5.
“Il y aura un travail tactique même s’il n’y aura pas beaucoup d’entraînement, on va jouer tous les trois jours et beaucoup voyager,” Zidane explained regarding the tight turnaround. “Tout le monde devra être prêt à jouer, et la liste est faite en ce sens.”
Complete France Squad for September-October 2026
Goalkeepers: Mike Maignan, Guillaume Restes, Robin Risser
Defenders: Jules Koundé, Dayot Upamecano, Ibrahima Konaté, Andy Diouf, Pierre Kalulu, Jérémy Jacquet, Adrien Truffert, Maxence Lacroix
Midfielders: Manu Koné, Adrien Rabiot, Eduardo Camavinga, Lucas Da Cunha, Warren Zaïre-Emery, Rayan Cherki
Forwards: Kylian Mbappé, Ousmane Dembélé, Michael Olise, Bradley Barcola, Désiré Doué, Estéban Lepaul
