Zidane names France squad for September-October international window with Bradley Barcola included

Zinedine Zidane named his first France squad for the September-October international window on 18 September 2026, with Bradley Barcola among the forwards called up.

Didier Deschamps has passed the France job to his former teammate Zinedine Zidane, and Les Bleus arrive at this new phase after finishing fourth at the FIFA World Cup 2026; the side have been drawn alongside Italy, Belgium and Turkiye in the UEFA Nations League.

Zidane has retained a core of World Cup regulars, naming captain Kylian Mbappé, goalkeeper Mike Maignan, defender Dayot Upamecano and winger Ousmane Dembélé, while also handing first senior call-ups to Guillaume Restes, Andy Diouf, Jérémy Jacquet, Lucas Da Cunha and Esteban Lepaul.

The 26-player list includes three goalkeepers — Mike Maignan, Guillaume Restes and Robin Risser — and eight defenders: Andy Diouf, Jérémy Jacquet, Pierre Kalulu, Ibrahima Konaté, Jules Koundé, Maxence Lacroix, Adrien Truffert and Dayot Upamecano. Midfield selections are Eduardo Camavinga, Rayan Cherki, Lucas Da Cunha, Manu Koné, Adrien Rabiot and Warren Zaïre-Emery, while the attacking group features Bradley Barcola, Ousmane Dembélé, Désiré Doué, Esteban Lepaul, Kylian Mbappé and Michael Olise.

Several established names were omitted from Zidane’s first squad, including Theo Hernandez, Lucas Hernandez, Brice Samba and N’Golo Kanté. William Saliba, Tchouameni and Marcus Thuram are reportedly not fully fit and available for the upcoming fixtures.

Zidane’s selections mix World Cup experience with youth and new faces ahead of the Nations League campaign.

The squad will assemble on Monday for the start of the gathering, with four UEFA Nations League matches scheduled during the September-October international window.