As of June 9, 2026, the official schedule for Group I of the 2026 FIFA World Cup has been released, with France placed as the group favorite. The French national team, which lost the 2022 final to Argentina on penalties (3-3 after extra time, 4-2 on penalties), is aiming for a third World Cup title under coach Didier Deschamps.
Group I includes France, along with other teams yet to be fully confirmed through qualifying. The group matches are set to take place in June and July 2026, with France's first game scheduled for June 15, 2026, against an opponent to be determined. The exact venues and full match times are pending final confirmation from FIFA.
France's campaign will be closely watched, as they seek to rebound from the 2022 final defeat. Key players like Kylian Mbappé, who scored a hat-trick in the 2022 final, are expected to lead the team. The group stage will be crucial for France to advance to the knockout rounds.
