France go into the World Cup with more than just a strong squad. Their nine attacking players carry a combined market value of more than €800m, and Didier Deschamps is heading into what could be his final tournament with the kind of firepower that makes a deep run look realistic. Kylian Mbappé, Ousmane Dembélé and Michael Olise are the obvious names, but the scale of the group is the real story.
Why France's attack stands out
France's top-end talent is absurd even by elite international standards. Michael Olise, Ousmane Dembélé, Kylian Mbappé and M. Doue alone are worth an estimated €530m, which tells you this is not a side leaning on one superstar. It is a cluster of high-value attackers who can hurt teams in different ways.
Mbappé's club form is the clearest marker of the level he is bringing into the tournament. He scored 42 goals in 44 games in all competitions in 2025-26, and that kind of return matters when France are built around players who can decide games quickly. Dembélé has also had a productive end to the season, with a rate of 1.4 goals and assists per 90 minutes. Olise, meanwhile, has 26 assists across all competitions and gives France a genuine creator between the lines.
Didier Deschamps has switched to a 4-2-3-1, with Olise as a number 10 and Dembélé given freedom on the right to build attacks between the lines. That shape suits the personnel better than a more cautious setup would, and it gives France room to lean into what they do best instead of hiding it.
Deschamps is chasing a rare finish
The personal angle is obvious too. Deschamps will attempt to bring the curtain down on 14 years in charge by emulating Italy's Vittorio Pozzo in 1938 as the only coach to win two World Cups. France have reached the final in four of the past seven editions, and they are aiming to become only the third team to reach the World Cup final in three consecutive tournaments.
That is the level of expectation around this squad now. France also won five of six qualifying games, sealing qualification with a 4-0 win against Ukraine, so this is not a team arriving with obvious momentum issues. The main talking point is whether the attack is as good on the pitch as it looks on paper, and whether Deschamps can turn one last campaign into something that lands in the history books.
There is a question mark at left-back, where Lucas Digne and Theo Hernandez are stronger going forward and Lucas Hernandez is the more reliable defensive option but has been plagued by injuries throughout his career. It is the clearest issue in an otherwise stacked squad. If France are going to justify the hype, it will probably be because the front line does most of the heavy lifting while Deschamps manages the edges well enough to keep the whole thing together.
The opening games will show whether that balance holds. If it does, France will look exactly like the sort of side that can put Deschamps within reach of one more title.
FAQ
Are France favourites for the 2026 World Cup?
France arrive with perhaps the most balanced and talented squad of all, and their attacking group is valued at more than €800m. Kylian Mbappé, Ousmane Dembélé and Michael Olise headline the depth, while Didier Deschamps is in his final tournament and chasing a rare second World Cup-winning coach's crown.
Why is France's attack so highly rated before the World Cup?
France's nine attacking players have a combined market value of more than €800m, with Michael Olise, Ousmane Dembélé, Kylian Mbappé and M. Doue alone worth an estimated €530m. Mbappé also scored 42 goals in 44 games in 2025-26, while Olise has 26 assists across all competitions.
What is Didier Deschamps trying to achieve at the 2026 World Cup?
Didier Deschamps will be trying to end 14 years in charge by becoming only the second coach to win two World Cups, after Vittorio Pozzo. France are also aiming to reach the final in three consecutive tournaments, with their attack giving them a real chance of a historic run.
What is France's biggest weakness going into the World Cup?
Left-back is the main selection issue. Lucas Digne and Theo Hernandez are stronger going forward, while Lucas Hernandez is the more reliable defensive option but has been plagued by injuries throughout his career.
Compiled by the ClutchBrief Desk with AI assistance, cross-checked against 1 outlet. How we work →