N'Golo Kanté

N'Golo Kanté 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 Manu Koné, Aurélien Tchouaméni, Adrien Rabiot and Warren Zaïre-Emery. The Fenerbahce midfielder is 35 at kick-off and brings 67 senior France caps and two international goals into the squad, making this his second World Cup after Russia 2018.

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 Kanté is listed among the midfielders as a holding player used in the sole defensive-midfield role.

Kanté is a defensive midfielder whose game is built on screening in front of the back four, ball progression from deep and press resistance. He breaks up opposition possession, carries the ball through the lines, and resets tempo with short passing from the holding role.

He is used as a pure holding midfielder in the sole defensive-midfield seat, and can also feature in a double pivot when the system calls for it. With 67 caps behind him, he is a holding-midfield option for Deschamps in front of the defence.

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.

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