France coach Deschamps names Spain as World Cup favorite amid citizenship debate

Ahead of France’s opening match at the World Cup, coach Didier Deschamps said he does not view his team as a top contender and named Spain the absolute favorite. He highlighted a generational shift in the French squad, noting the presence of many fresh, high‑level players alongside several making their World Cup debut.

Analysts note that the French roster, like many national teams, includes players with immigrant backgrounds and multiple citizenships. Although 23 of the 26 selected were born in France, many have parents from Africa or hold several nationalities. The discussion emphasizes that such players are not immigrants under the law, pointing to FIFA’s eligibility rules and similar cases in other teams such as Senegal and Germany.