2026 W/Cup: Camavinga Misses Out On France Squad

Real Madrid midfielder Eduardo Camavinga and Paris Saint-Germain goalkeeper Lucas Chevalier have been left out of the France squad for the 2026 World Cup, ESPN reports.

France is looking for a third World Cup title and is among the favorites for the event taking place from June 11-July 19 in Canada, Mexico, and the United States.

Camavinga was part of the France squad that finished runner-up in the last World Cup and came on as a substitute in the final loss to Argentina but was left out by coach Didier Deschamps in his squad announced Thursday.

“He had a difficult season for him where he played less. He also had injuries,” Deschamps said. “It’s true that he’s a player who came very early with us. He is still a young player.

“Because I have choices to make the squad structure also has to be even among the defenders, the midfielders and the forwards. But I understand and I imagine his enormous disappointment this evening.”

Chevalier was another notable absentee after losing his starting spot to Matvei Safonov at PSG and has not played since the end of January.

“The main criteria is sporting performance,” Deschamps said. “I understand that Lucas Chevalier may be disappointed, but he hasn’t played for several months anymore. At the time when he could have had some playing time, he didn’t get any.”

Deschamps rewarded goalkeeper Robin Risser with a call-up for the showpiece tournament following his breakthrough season.

Risser, who plays for Lens, has been one of the revelations of the French league season and won the award for the best goalkeeper earlier this week. He played a big role in making Lens the second-best defense in Ligue 1 and was selected by Deschamps in a No. 3 role behind Mike Maignan and Brice Samba.