Paul Pogba said the France squad for the 2026 World Cup is better than the team that won the tournament in 2018 [1].
This assessment comes as France prepares for its opening match against Senegal. As a veteran of the 2018 championship run, Pogba's perspective provides a direct comparison between two of the most talent-dense eras in French football history.
Speaking during pre-match remarks, the 33-year-old midfielder said the current roster offers coach Didier Deschamps more options than the previous championship squad [2, 3]. Pogba said the 2026 team might be the strongest French side since 2006 [2]. He said this strength is due to a combination of greater depth and overall quality across the lineup [3, 4].
The comments arrive during a period of transition for Pogba himself. Since returning to play for Monaco, he has recorded 30 minutes of play [5]. Despite his limited recent time on the pitch, his influence remains significant within the national team setup as they begin their campaign this month.
France enters the tournament as a favorite, with the squad featuring a mix of established stars and emerging talent. By comparing the current group to the 2018 winners, Pogba suggests that the tactical flexibility available to Deschamps has increased. This depth allows the team to rotate players without a significant drop in quality, a luxury that is critical during the grueling schedule of a World Cup.
“the France squad for the 2026 World Cup is better than the team that won in 2018”
Pogba's claim elevates the expectations for France's 2026 campaign by framing the current squad as an evolution of the 2018 championship team. By citing the 2006 era, he places the current talent pool in the context of France's historical peaks, suggesting that the team's versatility and depth are now its primary competitive advantages.
