‘They’re title contenders’: France’s 1986 heroes back Les Bleus for 2026

The year 1986 holds a special place in the hearts of France fans.

The French team won hearts and minds at the FIFA World Cup in Mexico that year, finishing third, 28 years after securing the bronze at the 1958 edition in Sweden.

Michel Hidalgo's Les Bleus captivated the nation with their epic quarterfinal clash against the mighty Brazil (1-1 a.e.t., 4–3 on penalties), sending them through to the semifinals of a World Cup for the second time in a row, following Spain '82.

Forty years on from that momentous Mexican saga, a new chapter in history is about to unfold in North America once again. The 26-man squad picked by Didier Deschamps is poised to fly to the USA on a mission to win their third World Cup title, adding to their 1998 and 2018 glory.

It presented the perfect opportunity for FIFA to ask some of the stars of '86 for their thoughts on “DD's” team.

“I think they’re title contenders,” said Alain Giresse, who was a huge part of France’s famous four-man midfield in 1986, alongside Michel Platini, Jean Tigana and Luis Fernandez. “If you compare how they stack up against other nations, there's a real chance they have what it takes to become world champions. Ultimately, it will all be decided on the pitch.”

When it comes to performance on the pitch, the French team's attack is what most impresses the 1986 veterans. Although Kylian Mbappe is the unanimous choice as “a star player”, according to Giresse, the rest of France’s talented youngsters are not to be underestimated. “Michael Olise and Desire Doue are in fine form and can offer something the French team really needs,” said “Gigi”.

“I seriously think we’ve got the best attack in the world,” claimed Jean-Pierre Papin, France’s legendary striker and specialist in the position, who scored twice at Mexico 1986.

According to “JPP”, the attacking options chosen by Deschamps are “simply incredible”. However, he is not getting carried away. The former Olympique de Marseille striker believes that France's formidable front line is not enough to guarantee victory at the tournament.

“We’re definitely in the running because we’re used to this sort of competition and we’ve got some very talented players,” he said. “But the problem nowadays is there aren’t any underdogs anymore. Every team’s a threat.”

Starting with the African teams, Papin spotted some real talent during the last CAF Africa Cup of Nations. “They're highly skilled and have made tremendous progress,” he explained. “At the Africa Cup of Nations, I saw players with amazing technical skills and physical prowess. We'll have to watch out during the first match against Senegal, and not let ourselves be caught off guard!”

If Les Bleus are to avoid a repeat of the 2002 defeat against the Lions of Teranga (1-0) on 16 June at New York New Jersey Stadium, they will need to start off strong under Deschamps. After 14 years of loyal service, he is keen to leave on a high note during what will be his farewell tour as France head coach. It seems unthinkable for such a tactician to crash out of the tournament early, a sentiment shared unanimously by the 1986 alumni.

“I’ve got enormous respect for Didier,” confessed Luis Fernandez. “In 1998, he was a world champion as a player. As a coach, he won the World Cup in 2018, and in 2022, he took us all the way to the final!"

“Back then, nobody could ever have imagined that we’d one day be world champions,” acknowledged Giresse. “It’s a massive deal being world champions and reaching those heights is the holy grail of football.”

“Winning the World Cup is no easy task, but why not go for a third one?” concluded Fernandez. “The players will have to step up, give their all and perform at their very best. Anything's possible!”