Deschamps names Spain as World Cup 2026 favourite, not France

Didier Deschamps did not spare his own players at a press conference on Monday, ahead of France’s opening match against Senegal in New York (21:00). For the French national team coach, the great favourite of this 2026 World Cup is not France, but Spain.

“If there is a favourite, it’s Spain. I have no doubt about that,” said Deschamps, 1998 World Cup winner. He acknowledges that “France has high-level potential”, but immediately tempers this: “The road is long. There is also a renewal, with players of great quality but for whom this will be their first World Cup.” A way of highlighting the relative inexperience of part of Kylian Mbappé’s squad at this level.

Spain, European champions since Euro 2024, begin their competition on Monday against Cape Verde. Lamine Yamal, injured on the thigh on 22 April and absent from the pitch since, will start the match on the bench.

For France, their opening match on Tuesday evening is presented as an “important, very important” appointment by Deschamps, without being described as decisive. The coach recalls that Argentina, the last World Cup champions, lost their first match in 2022 to Saudi Arabia before lifting the trophy. A precedent that puts things in perspective, without erasing the pressure.

Deschamps is particularly wary of Senegal, which he describes as “an opponent of very, very high level, which is among the best African and world teams”. After this opening clash in Group I, the Blues will face Iraq on 22 June, then Norway on 26 June.