The France national team may enter their next 2026 World Cup qualifying match with a new captain. This was reported by L’Équipe.
According to the report, team leader Kylian Mbappe will miss the October 13 match against Iceland in Reykjavik due to injury. The coaching staff has not yet decided who will wear the captain’s armband in his absence.
Two candidates are being considered — “Milan” goalkeeper Mike Maignan and “Bayern Munich” defender Dayot Upamecano. One of them is expected to lead the team onto the pitch in Mbappe’s place.
It should be recalled that Mbappe suffered a minor ankle injury earlier this week. He later returned to play against Azerbaijan but aggravated the same area during the match. Although doctors said the injury is not serious, the player was given rest to recover fully.
France remains the group leader for now. However, the temporary absence of a star like Mbappe may affect the team’s creativity in attack. That’s why the question of who will take the captaincy is particularly important.
French media suggest that Maignan’s experience and reputation make him the leading candidate, while Upamecano’s physical strength and motivational presence could also inspire the team.
Either way, the “Les Bleus” face a test in Reykjavik — a match without Mbappe will reveal their collective stability.
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