France remain one of the deepest squads in world football, with enough pace and ball-winning power to win games in several different ways.
France can absorb pressure and break quickly, but Senegal and Norway make Group I a real test of aerial defending and direct-channel control.
Key question: Does France use its depth to control the group efficiently, or does the attack become too dependent on transition moments?
Knockout ceiling: Final contender because their bench quality should matter more in the expanded eight-match route.
Mbappé at his peak. A settled defensive structure. A manager who knows how to win ugly. France arrive in North America as the team to beat.
France are the tournament favourites. Mbappé is the best player in the world. Deschamps has the deepest squad. So why does it still feel uncertain?
France are many people's favourites for 2026. Mbappé has unfinished business after the 2022 final heartbreak. How Deschamps sets up the opening group game will tell us everything.