Why Varane and Giroud Are Missing from France's 2026 World Cup Squad

Who: Raphael Varane and Olivier Giroud. What: neither player is in France's squad for the 2026 World Cup. When: this is the latest squad context ahead of France's Group I opener against Senegal on 16 June 2026 (kickoff 19:00 UTC). Why it matters: both departures remove decades of international experience from Didier Deschamps' final major tournament in charge, forcing tactical adjustments and opening minutes for younger players.

Why it matters

Varane and Giroud are not simply fringe names on the roster; they helped define France's international era that produced a 2018 World Cup win and a 2022 final. Their absence changes squad balance — losing Varane's past experience in central defence and Giroud's role as a traditional centre-forward means Deschamps goes into a tournament already reshaped from previous editions.

Why Raphael Varane is absent

Varane initially stepped away from international duty in February 2023, citing the toll of elite-level football on his body and mind. He then continued at club level but moved to Como in the summer of 2024. Minutes into his competitive debut for Como he suffered a serious knee injury; that sequence of events contributed to his decision to retire from all professional football in September 2024. After retiring he took a non-playing role at Como. Those developments mean he is unavailable for selection for France in 2026.

Why Olivier Giroud is absent

Giroud made his decision public around Euro 2024: he announced that the tournament would be his last for Les Bleus, explaining he wanted to make way for younger players and manage the length of his playing career. His international retirement after Euro 2024 is definitive in the context of France's 2026 squad: regardless of club form, he is not available to Didier Deschamps for the World Cup. Giroud finishes with a record 57 goals in 137 appearances, leaving as France's all-time top scorer.

How the squad looks without them

Deschamps enters the tournament with an attack led by Kylian Mbappé and several creative options such as Ousmane Dembélé and Michael Olise. The manager has shifted toward a more fluid system in recent cycles, prioritising movement and technical play rather than a traditional target striker. Defensively France remain well-stocked, but Varane's absence represents the end of an era for the central defensive group that had anchored the side for more than a decade.

France completed their warm-up programme with a 3-1 friendly win over Northern Ireland, a result that reinforced confidence before the World Cup despite the notable absences. Didier Deschamps will leave his position after this tournament, adding further significance to squad selection and how France approaches the competition tactically and emotionally.

Key points

• Raphael Varane stepped away from international football in February 2023 and retired from professional football in September 2024 after a serious knee injury that occurred shortly into his Como debut.
• Olivier Giroud retired from international duty after Euro 2024; he finished with 57 goals in 137 appearances and will not be available for selection in 2026.
• France beat Northern Ireland 3-1 in a warm-up friendly ahead of the World Cup and start Group I against Senegal on 16 June 2026 (kickoff 19:00 UTC).
• Didier Deschamps will leave the national team after the 2026 World Cup, making this his final squad selection and tournament in charge.

What it means for France's opener vs Senegal

With the tournament opener against Senegal scheduled for 16 June 2026 at 19:00 UTC, Deschamps will field a team that relies on pace, fluidity and technical versatility rather than the old guard's physical focal points. Mbappé is the clear attacking leader; other forwards and wide creators will be asked to provide goals and link play in a system that has adapted since Euro 2024.

Defensively, France's options remain strong on paper, but Varane's retirement removes a wealth of Champions League and international experience from the dressing room. That may influence how Deschamps manages central defence rotation and leadership as the group stage unfolds.

What happens next

France begins Group I with matches against Senegal, Iraq and Norway. The immediate focus is the opener against Senegal; after that Deschamps will manoeuvre through the group knowing this is his last tournament in charge. The squad's younger players will have an opportunity to establish themselves on the World Cup stage in the absence of long-serving figures such as Varane and Giroud.