Paris Saint-Germain have just completed back-to-back UEFA Champions League titles, and several national-team players in the squad are about to leave the club temporarily to represent their countries at the 2026 FIFA World Cup. For the Ligue 1 powerhouse, performances on the international stage are also an important window for assessing squad depth.
According to information we have, France currently sit top of the FIFA world rankings with 1,877.32 points, up two places from the previous update. In Didier Deschamps' extended squad, three core Paris players have drawn considerable outside attention: Ousmane Dembélé, Désiré Doué and Lucas Hernández.
Dembélé is one of the key reasons France are considered among the favorites to win the title. The winger can operate on either flank, excels at dribbling and breaking down defenses, and regularly creates scoring chances for teammates. He won the 2018 World Cup with France; at the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar, France reached the final with Dembélé in the squad. He joined Paris in 2023.
Doué joined Paris in 2025 for €50 million. He shone as the club lifted the Champions League for the first time, winning the UEFA Champions League Young Player of the Season, the Ligue 1 Young Player of the Year and the Golden Boy award. The 21-year-old attacking midfielder is an excellent dribbler and has already represented France at the Olympics; this World Cup marks his major-tournament debut. With France's wealth of talent in attack and midfield, Doué is not under single-player pressure and still has plenty of room to grow.
Lucas Hernández is 30 and one of the most experienced players in the Paris squad. At the 2018 World Cup he made six appearances as France won the title for a second time. He was selected for the 2022 tournament but a ruptured ligament kept him out of the remainder of the competition. He will bring leadership, positional versatility and big-stage experience to the French national team.
Looking at recent form, France have faced Turkey, Italy and Belgium during the 2026 international break, with all three matches ending 0-0 — solid at the back but their attacking efficiency still needs refinement. The 2026 World Cup will be jointly hosted by the United States, Canada and Mexico, and while France are not one of the hosts, they remain regarded among the top three favourites. Whether the Paris trio can translate their club-level chemistry to the national team will be a key storyline during the World Cup.
