TRIBUNBATAM.id, KEPRI – Based on the current FIFA rankings, France holds the top position ahead of Spain, under the guidance of head coach Didier Deschamps, who has led the team since 2012.
Under Deschamps’ management, France captured the 2018 World Cup title, finished as runners-up in 2022, and also secured the runner-up position at the 2016 European Championship.
Deschamps, who was also part of the French squad that won the 1998 World Cup as a player, is now aiming to guide Les Bleus to their third world title, leveraging his extensive experience both on and off the field.
Football analyst from Kepri, Chris Triwinasis, stated that it comes as no surprise that Les Bleus, as the French national team is often called, are among the top favourites for the 2026 World Cup.
France’s strength is further boosted by Paris Saint-Germain’s success in retaining their Champions League title, with the club contributing five to six players to the national squad.
“The presence of Dembele and Desire Dou (PSG) provides Deschamps with more attacking options up front,” said Chris on Wednesday (3 June 2026).
Additionally, the team features star striker Kylian Mbappe, who has been outstanding since the 2018 and 2022 World Cups. Mbappe has already scored 12 goals in total — four in 2018 and eight in 2022.
Other key players include Michael Olise from Bayern Munich, Hugo Ekitike from Liverpool, and Marcus Thuram from Inter Milan.
Unlike Brazil, which currently has no players from Real Madrid, France benefits from having three squad members from the Spanish club.
With such an abundance of talent, France is widely favoured to top Group I, which also includes Norway, Senegal, and Iraq.
Norway, who eliminated Italy during the European qualifying rounds, is also expected to accompany France into the knockout stage.
Manchester City striker Erling Haaland will be Norway’s main attacking weapon, supported by Arsenal’s Martin Odegaard as the creative playmaker. The duo were instrumental in Norway’s prolific scoring record during the European qualifiers.
For the Asian representative Iraq, progressing to the knockout stage will be a difficult task. Their closest rival will be Senegal, the nation of Sadio Mane, which won the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations, although the tournament was later annulled by the African football federation.
Senegal also has a remarkable World Cup record, famously defeating defending champions France 1-0 in the 2002 tournament. The two sides will meet again in their opening Group I match on 17 June 2026.
“To advance from the group stage, Senegal must secure a win against the Asian representative, Iraq,” Chris concluded. (TribunBatam.id/Ronnye Lodo Laleng)
