Zidane confirms Mbappé as France captain in first squad announcement

Zinedine Zidane confirmed Kylian Mbappé as captain of France on Friday as he unveiled his first squad as the new head coach, marking the official start of his tenure in charge of Les Bleus. The announcement came during a press conference on September 18, 2026, where Zidane, who succeeded Didier Deschamps on July 28, 2026, named a squad for the upcoming UEFA Nations League matches. Mbappé, who first inherited the captaincy in March 2023 after Hugo Lloris retired from international duty, will continue to lead the team. Zidane's squad includes several new faces, such as Liverpool defender Jeremy Jacquet, 21, who earned a call-up after his performances since moving to the Premier League club. Rennes striker Esteban Lepaul, the top scorer in Ligue 1 last season, receives his first international invitation, while Como midfielder Lucas Da Cunha and Inter Milan's Andy Diouf are also included. Toulouse goalkeeper Guillaume Restes rounds out the newcomers. Notably absent from the squad are players who featured at the 2026 World Cup, including Real Madrid midfielder Aurelien Tchouaméni, Inter forward Marcus Thuram, and the injured Arsenal defender William Saliba.