Arsène Wenger, one of football’s most respected figures and a long-time advocate for global player development, has declared France the “super favourites” to win the 2026 FIFA World Cup. With the tournament now months away, excitement continues to build across the 16 host cities spread across the United States, Canada and Mexico. Yet, according to the former Arsenal manager, one nation stands head and shoulders above the rest.
Speaking in an interview with TribalFootball, Wenger said France’s extraordinary attacking depth places them in a different category from their rivals. The 74-year-old, who now works closely with FIFA on global football development, believes the combination of established stars and rising talents gives Les Bleus a decisive advantage heading into the expanded 48-team World Cup.
“By trying to be as objective as possible, I think France are the super favourites,” Wenger said. “They have more world-class strikers than any other country. To have such a bench and such quality will make the difference.”
France’s attacking options are indeed the envy of the football world. The squad boasts Ballon d’Or winner Ousmane Dembélé, global icon Kylian Mbappé, Marcus Thuram, Randal Kolo Muani, Hugo Ekitike and teenage sensation Désiré Doué. Few nations can match such a combination of pace, creativity, clinical finishing and elite experience.
Mbappé, who will captain France into the tournament, remains one of the most influential players of his generation. His World Cup pedigree is already extraordinary: breakout star in 2018, heroic hat-trick in the 2022 final, and for many observers, the centrepiece of France’s hopes in 2026. Surrounding him with Dembélé’s dribbling, Thuram’s power, and Kolo Muani’s versatility gives Didier Deschamps—or any manager who leads the squad—unparalleled attacking flexibility.
Beyond the front line, France’s balance across midfield and defence also strengthens their case. Talents such as Aurélien Tchouaméni, Eduardo Camavinga, William Saliba, Jules Koundé and Dayot Upamecano form a spine capable of competing with any team in world football. Experience blends seamlessly with youth, and the squad depth ensures France can withstand injuries or suspensions that naturally arise during a long, demanding tournament.
The draw for the 2026 World Cup begins on Friday, with several nations anxiously waiting to learn their group-stage opponents. France will enter the tournament as one of the top four seeds, meaning they cannot meet fellow powerhouse England until the final. This separation further strengthens their path to the latter stages, given England are widely regarded as one of the few teams with comparable squad depth.
Wenger’s endorsement adds weight to the growing global sentiment that France, finalists in 2022 and perennial contenders for over a decade, remain the team to beat. Since winning the 2018 World Cup in Russia, France have continually refreshed their squad with elite youth talent while maintaining a strong core of experienced players. The result is a national team capable of dominating both in possession and on the counterattack.
The 2026 World Cup itself is set to be historic. Hosted jointly by Canada, Mexico and the United States, the tournament will expand to 48 teams and stretch across 16 cities—an unprecedented logistical and cultural showcase for global football. With matches ranging from Vancouver to Mexico City to New York, it promises to be the most widespread and commercially significant World Cup ever staged.
As anticipation builds, so too does the scrutiny of major contenders. Brazil, Argentina, England, Portugal and Germany all enter the competition with strong squads and high expectations. Yet Wenger insists that when judged purely on attacking firepower, nobody can match France.
“They have such a bench and such quality,” he emphasised, “and that will make the difference.”
If France can live up to the billing, the summer of 2026 may be remembered not just for its scale and spectacle, but for the crowning of a golden generation in full bloom.
