Image Source: Aleks Klosok,Amanda Davies
Key Takeaways
- France is seeking to win the World Cup in 2026, with Ousmane Dembélé as one of the leading figures.
- Dembélé has had a transformative year, winning the Ballon d’Or, FIFA Best Award, and Globe Soccer Award.
- He has overcome a difficult period in his career, marked by injuries and weighty expectations, to become a key player for Paris Saint-Germain.
- Dembélé is focused on the World Cup and the Champions League, with PSG aiming to become the first team to win back-to-back Champions Leagues since Real Madrid.
- The French team has undergone significant changes, with a mix of energetic youth and experienced heads, and Dembélé is confident that they will be a leading force in the tournament.
Introduction to France’s World Cup Ambitions
France is looking to win the World Cup in 2026, with Ousmane Dembélé as one of the leading figures. As the world’s newly crowned best men’s soccer player, Dembélé is eager to bring the trophy home, especially after the painful loss to Argentina in the 2022 World Cup. "We know what it takes to go all the way and we’re going to try to do everything to bring the trophy home," Dembélé said in an exclusive interview with CNN Sports. The French team has undergone significant changes since the 2022 World Cup, with veterans like Hugo Lloris, Raphaël Varane, Antoine Griezmann, and Olivier Giroud no longer part of the team.
A New Era for the French Team
The class of 2026 under France coach Didier Deschamps is a mix of energetic youth and experienced heads, with Dembélé poised to be one of the leading figures alongside fellow striker Kylian Mbappé. "There’ve been a huge number of changes," Dembélé said. "We’ve got talented players who’ve adapted very well to the style and squad. The French team will always play a leading role in this kind of tournament, so you’ll have to count on us." The team’s opening match of the tournament, a June 16 clash against Senegal at MetLife Stadium, is what Dembélé has circled in his diary. Born and raised in France to immigrants from Africa, his mother Fatima, with whom he shares a close bond, is Mauritanian-Senegalese while his father hails from Mali.
Dembélé’s Personal Journey
Dembélé’s journey to the top has not been easy. He burst onto the scene, winning France’s young player of the year award in his first season as a professional at Stade Rennais, but a big-money move to European giant Barcelona smothered him in weighty expectations and he was hamstrung with a plethora of injuries. "I remember moments in my career when it was difficult, when I couldn’t give up," he said. "I had a lot of things to deal with … But there you go, it’s your path, it’s destiny, it’s life. You just have to keep playing." His arrival at PSG in 2023, which more or less coincided with the appointment of head coach Luis Enrique, has proved to be the rebirth of his career.
PSG’s Success and Dembélé’s Role
Dembélé has thrived under Enrique’s focus on wanting the collective – not individuals – to be the star, particularly following the departure of superstar Mbappé to Real Madrid in the summer of 2024. "Every footballer wants to have a team that is collectively very strong," he said. "I take a lot of pleasure in this team. Everyone is important in this squad whether you’re young or a bit older." The shift in mentality from the star-laden teams of Mbappé, Lionel Messi, and Neymar to Enrique’s hardworking group bore remarkable results for the club, with a stunning six trophies in 2025. Les Parisiens continued where they left off by lifting their first trophy of the year, defeating arch-rival Olympique de Marseille in dramatic fashion on penalties to claim their fourth straight French Super Cup title.
Looking Ahead to the Future
With two matchdays remaining in the league phase, the defending champions remain on course to qualify automatically for the round of 16, currently sitting third in the standings with 13 points from six matches. The Frenchman and his teammates, though, are not content with the winning to stop there. The message from Dembélé is clear: Paris Saint-Germain isn’t going anywhere any time soon. "As the coach repeated to us, it’s by being a team that we can go and get all these trophies and that’s what we did, especially in 2025 and we’re going to try and do the same thing in 2026," he said. "The philosophy of Paris Saint-Germain and the team isn’t going to change. We want to be a united team and, above all, a great team."
https://www.cnn.com/2026/01/12/sport/soccer-ousmane-dembele-france-psg-world-cup