Manu Koné

Manu Koné is a confirmed midfielder in France's 26-man squad for the 2026 World Cup, named by Didier Deschamps on 14 May 2026 and listed in the midfield group alongside Aurélien Tchouaméni, N'Golo Kanté, Adrien Rabiot and Warren Zaïre-Emery. The Roma midfielder is 25 at kick-off and brings 12 senior France caps into the squad, with 2026 set to be his first senior World Cup if he stays in the final 26 at kick-off.

France face Senegal, Iraq and Norway in Group I, with the opener against Senegal at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford on 16 June. Deschamps' side qualified by winning UEFA Group D on 13 November 2025, and Koné is listed among the midfielders as a box-to-box player who can also operate in a deeper holding role.

Koné is a central midfielder whose game is built on ball progression through the lines and defensive screening in front of the back four. A box-to-box player, he carries the ball from deep, breaks up opposition possession, and can drop into a holding role when the system calls for it.

At Roma he is used mainly in a number eight role, arriving in midfield to support attacks while keeping his work behind the ball. With 12 caps so far, he is another midfield option Deschamps can call on in the centre of the pitch.

France are a Tier 1 pick on the Goal Rush card at £32m within the game's £200m card budget, the premium top-band slot rather than a mid- or lower-tier call. The Group I draw against Senegal, Iraq and Norway sets the early fixture context, with Deschamps' confirmed 4-2-3-1 and France's UEFA Group D qualifying run giving the team slot its main Goal Rush angle.

Koné is part of the France team card at that £32m slot as a listed midfielder.