2026 World Cup: Deschamps has already made a decision for the France national team

World Cup 2026 08 September 2025 at 09:41

Joshua SOSSOU

News Editor

Confident about qualifying for the 2026 World Cup, Didier Deschamps, head coach of Les Bleus, has already made a bold decision.

In the French national team, Didier Deschamps is spoiled for choice when it comes to goalkeepers. Lucas Chevalier, in particular, has experienced a spectacular rise since joining PSG this summer. At 23, the former Lille shot-stopper is now under an unprecedented media spotlight and plays a central role at the country’s most-watched club, the recent European champion. His transfer, reportedly around €55 million including bonuses, marks a major milestone in his career.

However, according to L'Équipe, despite his new status, Chevalier has not disrupted the established hierarchy for Les Bleus. The Parisian keeper remains the number two behind Mike Maignan. Moreover, Didier Deschamps has no intention of changing his approach: Mike Maignan remains the undisputed number one for France. At 30, the AC Milan keeper has managed to maintain an exceptional level of performance despite some challenges at club level. The stats speak for themselves: eighteen clean sheets in 33 caps and a run of twenty consecutive matches for France, a streak even Hugo Lloris never achieved.

Solid, experienced, and a locker room leader, Maignan embodies the stability needed to prepare for the 2026 World Cup.