Michael Olise

Michael Olise is a confirmed France squad member for the 2026 World Cup, named by Didier Deschamps on 14 May 2026 in a forward group with Ousmane Dembélé, Marcus Thuram, Kylian Mbappé, Bradley Barcola, Désiré Doué, Jean-Philippe Mateta, Rayan Cherki and Maghnes Akliouche. The Bayern Munich winger / attacking midfielder is 24 at kick-off and brings 15 France caps and four international goals into the squad as of 30 March 2026.

The 2026 tournament is set to be Olise's first senior World Cup if he remains in the final squad 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's side qualified by winning UEFA Group D on 13 November 2025, giving Olise a grounded debutant profile built on squad status, club, position, caps and goals.

Olise is a winger / attacking midfielder whose grounded traits are creativity, dribbling and flair. He likes to operate 50 to 30 yards from goal in the right half-space, where his passing range can play behind the defence or switch the angle of attack.

He is mainly left-footed but can score with either foot, and his agility, acceleration and change of pace help him turn quickly in tight spaces. That gives France a right-sided creator who can receive between midfield and defence, then carry, pass or shoot before the block resets.

France are a Tier 1 Goal Rush pick at £32m within the game's £200m card budget, with xG 11.8 and rank 1. The Senegal opener gives the first matchday read before Group I continues against Iraq and Norway.

Olise is a debutant with direct attacking evidence already on the France record: four international goals, right-half-space creativity and dribbling that can break compact blocks. If he starts, the France pick gains another route to chances beyond the central finishers, especially through passes behind the defence and quick changes of angle.