Eduardo Camavinga will not be at the World Cup this summer. Didier Deschamps confirmed France's 26-man squad for the 2026 tournament on Wednesday, and the Real Madrid midfielder's name was not in it. The omission raised eyebrows across Europe — Camavinga was part of the squad that reached the 2022 World Cup final — but Deschamps was blunt about his reasoning. The midfielder had a difficult campaign at the Bernabeu, picked up injuries, lost his regular starting spot, and simply wasn't consistent enough to justify inclusion in a squad where every position is fiercely contested. Lucas Chevalier was also absent, but it's Camavinga's exclusion that has dominated the reaction.
Deschamps' Reasoning and the Squad Structure
France will travel to North America with three goalkeepers, nine defenders, five midfielders and nine forwards. Kylian Mbappe leads the attack, as expected. The midfield balance is where Deschamps has had to make hard calls, and he clearly decided that Camavinga's inconsistency this season tipped the balance against him. "He's coming off a difficult season where he played less and suffered injuries," Deschamps explained. "I have decisions to make and I have to consider who's ready to contribute from the first game." It's the language of a coach who trusts form over reputation — and in this case, the form simply wasn't there.
The Pressure on Mbappe's France
For France, this World Cup carries extra weight. Deschamps has confirmed he will step down after the tournament, ending his remarkable 14-year tenure as national team boss. The 2018 champions arrive as one of the favourites, though their road to the final looks treacherous on paper — the draw has placed them in a group with Belgium and Mexico, with knockout stage encounters likely against some of Europe and South America's best before any final. Mbappe, now 27, is expected to carry the attack with Ousmane Dembele and an assortment of forwards that gives Deschamps options. The depth in the squad is extraordinary. The question, as it always is with France, is whether they can stay healthy and coherent over the course of a tournament that now spans 104 games.
What This Means for Camavinga Going Forward
Being left out of a World Cup squad at 22 is a setback, but it's not a disaster. Camavinga has time on his side, and his talent has never been in question. The issue is consistency — he needs a full, injury-free pre-season and a clear starting role at Madrid next year to remind everyone what he's capable of. If that happens, he'll be back in the France picture before anyone knows it. For now, though, he watches the tournament from home while his compatriots try to add a third star to the French shirt.
Squad context: Eduardo Camavinga, 22, is contracted to Real Madrid until 2029. France's 26-man World Cup squad was announced by Didier Deschamps on May 14, 2026. Deschamps will leave his role after the tournament, ending a 14-year reign as France coach.
0 Comments