Hugo Ekitike, who has made a bright start to life at Liverpool, has been excluded from Didier Deschamps' France side for the first 2026 World Cup qualifiers. Monaco's winger Maghnes Akliouche has been handed his first call-up to the senior national side.
Ekitike, 23, signed for Liverpool this summer from Eintracht Frankfurt and has already scored three goals in three competitive games. He also impressed while playing for France's Under-21s last term, scoring five times in five appearances.
Despite this activity, the forward will then have to wait for an opportunity with the first team, where attacking positions are still highly competitive. France have a forward lineup featuring Kylian Mbappe, Ousmane Dembele, Marcus Thuram, and even the in-form Rayan Cherki.
Conversely, Monaco's Maghnes Akliouche has been rewarded for his consistency in club football. The 23-year-old has been touted to join some of Europe's biggest clubs and played for Thierry Henry's team that claimed silver at the Paris Olympics last summer.
His selection is an indicator of Deschamps' desire to bring in new faces in a squad that already has so much experience and depth.
The 2018 World Cup champions and 2022 runners-up will start their Group D journey with a visit to play Ukraine in Poland on Friday, September 5. They come back home to Paris to play Iceland on September 9. Azerbaijan completes the group, with the games going on in October and November.
The group leaders will earn automatic qualification to the finals in North America next year.
The team also includes Adrien Rabiot, who is kept in despite off-field disciplinary problems at Marseille. Emerging stars Desire Doue and Manu Kone provide depth to the midfielders, while William Saliba, Dayot Upamecano, and Jules Kounde form a solid defense.
Rayan Cherki, who debuted in June before making a high-profile transfer to Manchester City, is also included.
Goalkeepers: Lucas Chevalier, Mike Maignan, Brice Samba
Defenders: Lucas Digne, Malo Gusto, Lucas Hernandez, Theo Hernandez, Ibrahima Konate, Jules Kounde, William Saliba, Dayot Upamecano
Midfielders: Desire Doue, Manu Kone, Adrien Rabiot, Aurelien Tchouameni, Khephren Thuram
Forwards: Maghnes Akliouche, Bradley Barcola, Rayan Cherki, Ousmane Dembele, Kylian Mbappe, Michael Olise, Marcus Thuram
