France national football team facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
France

Nickname(s)	Les Bleus (The Blues)
Association	Fédération Française de Football (FFF)
Confederation	UEFA (Europe)
Head coach	Didier Deschamps
Captain	Kylian Mbappé
Most caps	Hugo Lloris (145)
Top scorer	Olivier Giroud (57)
Home stadium	Stade de France
FIFA code	FRA
First colours Second colours
FIFA ranking
Current	2 (7 February 2019)
Highest	1 (May 2001 – May 2002, August–September 2018)
Lowest	26 (September 2010)
Elo ranking
Current	2 3 (3 March 2019)
Highest	1 (1984–1985, 1986, 1998–1999, 2000–2002, 2003–2004, 2006, 2007, 2018)
Lowest	40 (March–July 1930)
First international
Belgium 3–3 France  (Uccle, Belgium; 1 May 1904)
Biggest win
France 14–0 Gibraltar  (Nice, France; 18 November 2023)
Biggest defeat
Denmark 17–1 France  (London, England; 22 October 1908)
World Cup
Appearances	16 (first in 1930)
Best result	Champions (1998, 2018)
European Championship
Appearances	11 (first in 1960)
Best result	Champions (1984, 2000)
Nations League Finals
Appearances	2 (first in 2021)
Best result	Champions (2021)
CONMEBOL–UEFA Cup of Champions
Appearances	1 (first in 1985)
Best result	Champions (1985)
Confederations Cup
Appearances	2 (first in 2001)
Best result	Champions (2001, 2003)
Medal record Men's football FIFA World Cup Gold 1998 France Team Gold 2018 Russia Team Silver 2006 Germany Team Silver 2022 Qatar Team Bronze 1958 Sweden Team Bronze 1986 Mexico Team UEFA European Championship Gold 1984 France Team Gold 2000 Belgium–Netherlands Team Silver 2016 France Team UEFA Nations League Gold 2021 Italy Team Bronze 2025 Germany Team FIFA Confederations Cup Gold 2001 Korea/Japan Team Gold 2003 France Team Olympic Games Gold 1984 Los Angeles Team Silver 1900 Paris Team CONMEBOL–UEFA Cup of Champions Gold 1985 Paris Team

The France national football team represents France in men's international football matches. It is managed by the French Football Federation (FFF). The team is part of UEFA in Europe and FIFA globally. Their colors are blue, white, and red, like the French flag. Their symbol is the Gallic rooster. People often call the team Les Bleus (The Blues). They play most home games at the Stade de France in Saint-Denis. They train at the National Football Centre in Clairefontaine-en-Yvelines.

The team started in 1904. They have won many major titles. These include two FIFA World Cups, two UEFA European Championships, one CONMEBOL–UEFA Cup of Champions, two FIFA Confederations Cups, and one UEFA Nations League title. France was one of the first four European teams to play in the first World Cup in 1930.

France has had great success in different periods. In the 1980s, with Michel Platini, they won Euro 1984. They also won the CONMEBOL–UEFA Cup in 1985. In the late 1990s and early 2000s, led by Didier Deschamps and Zinedine Zidane, Les Bleus won the 1998 World Cup and Euro 2000. They also won the Confederations Cup in 2001 and 2003.

More recently, France won the 2018 World Cup. They also won the 2021 Nations League. This made them the first European team to win every major FIFA and UEFA competition for senior teams. In 2022, France reached the World Cup final again. They lost to Argentina in a penalty shootout.

France is one of only two countries, along with Brazil, to have won all men's FIFA 11-player competitions at all age levels. This includes the World Cup, FIFA U-20 World Cup, FIFA U-17 World Cup, the now-finished FIFA Confederations Cup, and the Olympic title. France was the first to achieve this, after their U-20 team won the U-20 World Cup in 2013.

France has football rivalries with teams like Belgium, England, Germany, Italy, Portugal, and Spain. A strong rivalry with Argentina also grew in the early 2020s.

Team History and Achievements

Early Days of French Football (1900s–1930s)

France national team that played its first international v Belgium in 1904.

The France national football team started in 1904. Their first official international match was on May 1, 1904, against Belgium in Brussels. The game ended in a 3–3 draw. A year later, France played their first home match against Switzerland at the Parc des Princes. France won 1–0.

In July 1930, France played in the first-ever FIFA World Cup in Uruguay. They won their first World Cup match against Mexico 4–1. Lucien Laurent scored the first goal in World Cup history during that game. France did not make it past the group stage in that tournament.

At the 1938 World Cup, which France hosted, they reached the quarter-finals. They lost 3–1 to Italy, who were the champions at the time.

The Golden Era of the 1950s and 1980s

France had a "Golden Generation" of players in the late 1950s. These players included Just Fontaine and Raymond Kopa. At the 1958 World Cup, France reached the semi-finals. They lost to Brazil. In the third-place match, France beat West Germany 6–3. Fontaine scored 13 goals in that tournament, which is still a World Cup record.

The 1960s and 1970s were tougher for France. They often failed to qualify for big tournaments. However, things changed in the 1980s under coach Michel Hidalgo. Players like Michel Platini, Jean Tigana, Alain Giresse, and Luis Fernández formed a group called the "carré magique" (Magic Square).

In 1982, France reached the World Cup semi-finals. They lost to West Germany in a very exciting match. Two years later, France won their first major international trophy. They won Euro 1984 on home soil. Platini was the star, scoring nine goals in the tournament. France beat Spain 2–0 in the final.

After this, France also won gold at the 1984 Summer Olympics football tournament. A year later, they won the Artemio Franchi Trophy. This trophy was a early version of the FIFA Confederations Cup. By then, France held three major international trophies. At the 1986 World Cup, France reached the semi-finals again. They finished third after beating Belgium.

World Champions: The Zidane Era (1995–2006)

France failed to qualify for the 1994 World Cup, which was a big disappointment. After this, Aimé Jacquet became the new manager. He built a strong team with experienced players and new talents like Zinedine Zidane. The team reached the semi-finals of Euro 1996.

[[football squad on pitch|align=right | GK = Barthez | RB = Thuram | RCB = Leboeuf | LCB = Desailly | LB = Lizarazu | DM = Deschamps | RCM = Karembeu | LCM = Petit | RAM = Zidane | LAM = Djorkaeff | CF = Guivarc'h | caption = France's starting team against Brazil in the 1998 FIFA World Cup final, which they won 3–0. ]] In 1998, France hosted the World Cup. They played incredibly well and won the tournament without losing a single match. They beat Brazil 3–0 in the final at the Stade de France. This was France's first World Cup title.

After the World Cup win, Roger Lemerre took over as coach. He led the team to win Euro 2000. Zidane was again a key player. France beat Italy 2–1 in the final with a "golden goal" by David Trezeguet. This made France the first team to hold both the World Cup and Euro titles at the same time. They also won the Confederations Cup in 2001 and 2003.

Zinedine Zidane was the captain for France at the 2006 FIFA World Cup.

However, France struggled at the 2002 World Cup. They were eliminated in the group stage without scoring a goal. This was a big shock. In 2006, France reached the World Cup final again. They played Italy, and the match ended 1–1. Italy won 5–3 on penalties. This was Zidane's last game before he retired.

The French team celebrating with fans after the 2006 World Cup.

Challenges and Rebuilding (2007–2015)

France qualified for Euro 2008 but performed poorly in the tournament. They finished last in their group. The 2010 World Cup was also difficult. The team faced problems between players and staff. Striker Nicolas Anelka was sent home, and players even boycotted a training session. France was eliminated in the group stage.

After the 2010 World Cup, Laurent Blanc became the new coach. He suspended all 23 players from the World Cup squad for a friendly match. At Euro 2012, France reached the quarter-finals but lost to Spain.

Didier Deschamps, who captained France to their 1998 World Cup and Euro 2000 wins, became coach in 2012. His team qualified for the 2014 World Cup. They reached the quarter-finals but lost to eventual champions Germany.

New Success and World Cup Glory (2016–Present)

France hosted UEFA Euro 2016. They played well and reached the final. However, they lost 1–0 to Portugal in extra time.

[[football squad on pitch|align=right | GK = Lloris | RB = Pavard | RCB = Varane | LCB = Umtiti | LB = Hernandez | RDM = Pogba | LDM = Kanté | RW = Mbappé | LW = Matuidi | AM = Griezmann | CF = Giroud | caption = France's starting team against Croatia in the 2018 FIFA World Cup final, which they won 4–2. ]] At the 2018 World Cup, France topped their group. They then beat Argentina 4–3 in a thrilling match. They also defeated Uruguay and Belgium. On July 15, 2018, France beat Croatia 4–2 in the final. This was their second World Cup title!

UEFA Euro 2020 was played in 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. France finished first in a tough group but were knocked out by Switzerland in the round of 16. The game ended 3–3, and Switzerland won on penalties.

France then won the 2020–21 UEFA Nations League. They beat Spain 2–1 in the final.

At the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, France aimed to defend their title. They reached their second World Cup final in a row. They beat Poland, England, and Morocco in the knockout stages. However, they lost to Argentina on penalties after an exciting 3–3 draw.

France qualified for UEFA Euro 2024 in Germany. They finished second in their group and advanced to the knockout stage. They beat Belgium 1–0 in the round of 16. They then reached the semi-finals by beating Portugal on penalties after a 0–0 draw. France lost to Spain 2–1 in the semi-finals. This was their first loss in regular time since the 2014 World Cup.

Coach Didier Deschamps has confirmed he will leave after the 2026 World Cup.

Home Stadium and Training

France's main stadium has changed over the years. In the early days, they played at the Parc des Princes in Paris. They also played some matches in other cities like Marseille and Lyon.

Stade de France

In 1998, the Stade de France became France's national stadium. It is located in Saint-Denis, near Paris. It can hold over 81,000 fans. France's first game there was on January 28, 1998, against Spain. France won 1–0, with Zinedine Zidane scoring the goal. Since then, France has played almost all their big home games at this stadium, including the 1998 World Cup final.

Before matches, the team trains at the Clairefontaine National Football Institute. This is a special training center for football players. It opened in 1988 and became famous when the 1998 World Cup-winning team used it as their base.

On November 13, 2015, during a friendly match against Germany, there were bomb attacks outside the Stade de France. The game continued to keep the crowd calm. After the match, the stadium was safely evacuated. Both teams stayed inside until it was safe to leave.

Team Look and Nicknames

Team Colors and Kits

USFSA team that represented France at the 1900 Summer Olympics. They wore a white shirt with the rings emblem. This shirt was also used in their first international match against Belgium in 1904.

The France national team uses blue, white, and red colors. These come from the French national flag, called the tricolore. Their first shirt in 1904 was white with a special emblem.

Usually, France wears blue shirts, white shorts, and red socks for home games. For away games, they wear all white, or white shirts and socks with blue shorts. In a 1978 World Cup match, both teams had white kits. So, France borrowed green-and-white striped shirts from a local club.

France's Zinedine Zidane number 10 home shirt, made by Adidas.

From 1966 to 1971, Le Coq Sportif made France's shirts. In 1972, Adidas became their kit provider. France won Euro 1984, the 1998 World Cup, and Euro 2000 while wearing Adidas kits. In 2008, the French Football Federation signed a new deal with Nike. This deal started in 2011 and made France's blue shirt one of the most expensive sponsorships in football history.

Nike-made France merchandise displayed for UEFA Euro 2016.

Nike's first kit for France was for Euro 2012. It was dark blue with gold accents. For Euro 2016, Nike made a new kit with blue shirts and shorts, and red socks for home games. The away kit was white shirts and shorts with blue socks.

Team Nicknames

France is often called Les Bleus (The Blues) by fans and the media. This nickname is used for all French national sports teams because they all wear blue shirts. They are also sometimes called Les Tricolores (The Tri-color Team) because of their blue, white, and red national colors.

In the 1980s, France was known as the "Brazilians of Europe." This was because of their exciting and skillful attacking style of play, led by Michel Platini. More recently, France's strong defense has earned them the nickname "Mur de fer" (The Iron Wall). This defense was very important in their 2018 World Cup win.

Current Team and Records

Coaching Staff

Didier Deschamps, the current coach of the France national football team.

As of July 2025, Didier Deschamps is the head coach of the France national football team. He has been in charge since 2012.

Current Squad

The following players were part of the squad for the 2025 UEFA Nations League Finals matches in June 2025. Caps and goals are as of June 8, 2025, after the match against Germany.

No.	Pos.	Player	Date of birth (age)	Caps	Goals	Club
1	1GK	Brice Samba	(1994-04-25) 25 April 1994 (age 31)	3	0	Rennes
16	1GK	Mike Maignan	(1995-07-03) 3 July 1995 (age 30)	32	0	Milan
23	1GK	Lucas Chevalier	(2001-11-06) 6 November 2001 (age 23)	0	0	Lille
2	2DF	Benjamin Pavard	(1996-03-28) 28 March 1996 (age 29)	55	5	Internazionale
3	2DF	Lucas Digne	(1993-07-20) 20 July 1993 (age 32)	52	0	Aston Villa
4	2DF	Loïc Badé	(2000-04-11) 11 April 2000 (age 25)	1	0	Sevilla
5	2DF	Clément Lenglet	(1995-06-17) 17 June 1995 (age 30)	16	1	Atlético Madrid
15	2DF	Ibrahima Konaté	(1999-05-25) 25 May 1999 (age 26)	23	0	Liverpool
17	2DF	Malo Gusto	(2003-05-19) 19 May 2003 (age 22)	3	0	Chelsea
19	2DF	Pierre Kalulu	(2000-06-05) 5 June 2000 (age 25)	1	0	Juventus
21	2DF	Lucas Hernandez	(1996-02-14) 14 February 1996 (age 29)	39	0	Paris Saint-Germain
22	2DF	Théo Hernandez	(1997-10-06) 6 October 1997 (age 27)	38	2	Al-Hilal
6	3MF	Mattéo Guendouzi	(1999-04-14) 14 April 1999 (age 26)	14	2	Lazio
8	3MF	Aurélien Tchouaméni	(2000-01-27) 27 January 2000 (age 25)	41	3	Real Madrid
13	3MF	Manu Koné	(2001-05-17) 17 May 2001 (age 24)	8	0	Roma
14	3MF	Adrien Rabiot	(1995-04-03) 3 April 1995 (age 30)	53	6	Marseille
18	3MF	Warren Zaïre-Emery	(2006-03-08) 8 March 2006 (age 19)	7	1	Paris Saint-Germain
7	4FW	Ousmane Dembélé	(1997-05-15) 15 May 1997 (age 28)	56	7	Paris Saint-Germain
9	4FW	Marcus Thuram	(1997-08-06) 6 August 1997 (age 28)	30	2	Internazionale
10	4FW	Kylian Mbappé (captain)	(1998-12-20) 20 December 1998 (age 26)	90	50	Real Madrid
11	4FW	Michael Olise	(2001-12-12) 12 December 2001 (age 23)	8	2	Bayern Munich
12	4FW	Randal Kolo Muani	(1998-12-05) 5 December 1998 (age 26)	31	9	Juventus
20	4FW	Bradley Barcola	(2002-09-02) 2 September 2002 (age 22)	14	2	Paris Saint-Germain
24	4FW	Désiré Doué	(2005-06-03) 3 June 2005 (age 20)	3	0	Paris Saint-Germain
25	4FW	Rayan Cherki	(2003-08-17) 17 August 2003 (age 22)	2	1	Manchester City

Most Appearances for France

Hugo Lloris is France's most capped player with 145 appearances.

These players have played the most games for France:

• Hugo Lloris: 145 games (2008–2022)
• Lilian Thuram: 142 games (1994–2008)
• Olivier Giroud: 137 games (2011–2024)
• Antoine Griezmann: 137 games (2014–2024)
• Thierry Henry: 123 games (1997–2010)

Top Goalscorers for France

Olivier Giroud is France's top goalscorer with 57 goals.

These players have scored the most goals for France:

• Olivier Giroud: 57 goals in 137 games (2011–2024)
• Thierry Henry: 51 goals in 123 games (1997–2010)
• Kylian Mbappé: 50 goals in 90 games (2017–present)
• Antoine Griezmann: 44 goals in 137 games (2014–2024)
• Michel Platini: 41 goals in 72 games (1976–1987)

Major Competition Records

France has a strong record in major international football tournaments.

FIFA World Cup History

France has played in 16 FIFA World Cup tournaments. They are one of only eight teams to have won the World Cup.

• Champions (2): 1998 (on home soil), 2018
• Runners-up (2): 2006, 2022
• Third place (2): 1958, 1986

In 2002, France was eliminated in the first round without scoring a goal. In 2010, they also went out in the group stage after team issues.

UEFA European Championship History

France is one of the most successful teams in the UEFA European Championship. They have won two titles.

• Champions (2): 1984 (on home soil), 2000
• Runners-up (1): 2016

France hosted the first European Championship in 1960. They have appeared in 11 tournaments.

UEFA Nations League History

France has also performed well in the UEFA Nations League.

• Champions (1): 2021
• Third place (1): 2025

FIFA Confederations Cup History

France has played in two FIFA Confederations Cup tournaments and won both times.

• Champions (2): 2001, 2003 (as hosts)

Team Honours and Awards

France celebrating their victory of the 2018 FIFA World Cup.

France has won many important football competitions and awards:

• FIFA World Cup
  • Champions (2): 1998, 2018
  • Runners-up (2): 2006, 2022
  • Third place (2): 1958, 1986
• UEFA European Championship
  • Champions (2): 1984, 2000
  • Runners-up (1): 2016
• UEFA Nations League
  • Champions (1): 2021
  • Third place (1): 2025
• CONMEBOL–UEFA Cup of Champions
  • Champions (1): 1985
• FIFA Confederations Cup
  • Champions (2): 2001, 2003
• Olympic Games
  • Gold medal (1): 1984 (by the Olympic team)
  • Silver medal (1): 1900 (by a club team)

Other Awards

• FIFA Team of the Year: 2001
• Laureus World Team of the Year: 2001, 2019
• World Soccer Team of the Year: 1984, 1991, 1998, 2000, 2018
• FIFA World Cup Fair Play Trophy: 1998
• FIFA World Cup Most Entertaining Team: 1998

Images for kids

• 

  The French team celebrating with fans after the 2006 World Cup.

See also

In Spanish: Selección de fútbol de Francia para niños

• France women's national football team
• France Olympic football team
• France national under-21 football team
• France national youth football team
• Football in France
• Sport in France