France target third title with star-studded squad

Doha, Qatar: As the 2026 FIFA World Cup gets underway, two-time world champions France are heading to the tournament with high expectations. The Les Bleus have built a reputation for consistently competing at the highest level and once again arrive as one of the favourites to lift football’s biggest prize.

With a squad packed with world-class talent, an experienced coach in his final tournament, and memories of recent World Cup glory still fresh, France enter North America with one clear objective: bringing the trophy back to Paris. freshyourfeel.com

The nation’s golden moments in the tournament came on home soil in 1998. Inspired by Zinedine Zidane, France defeated Brazil 3-0 in the final at the Stade de France to lift the World Cup for the first time. Twenty years later, another generation of stars led by Kylian Mbappe captured a second title in Russia, defeating Croatia 4-2 in the 2018 final.

France came agonisingly close to adding a third crown in 2022, producing one of the greatest World Cup final performances ever before losing to Argentina on penalties after an unforgettable 3-3 draw.

Overall, France boast two World Cup titles, two runner-up finishes, and two consecutive finals in the last two editions, making Les Bleus one of the most successful football nations of the modern era.

This year’s France squad looks exceptionally strong, with many of its players arriving after outstanding seasons at club level and eager to carry that form onto football’s biggest stage. Leading the charge is captain Kylian Mbappe. Already a World Cup winner and one of the tournament’s most prolific scorers. As he prepares for his third World Cup appearance, the French superstar will be aiming to further cement his place among the competition’s all-time greats.

Alongside him is Ballon d’Or winner Ousmane Dembele, whose creativity and unpredictability provide France with another devastating attacking weapon. Emerging talents such as Michael Olise, Desire Doue and Rayan Cherki have added freshness and flair to an already formidable squad. Olise recently strengthened his case for a starting role with a hat-trick in France’s 3-1 World Cup warm-up victory over Northern Ireland.

In midfield, the energetic Warren Zaire-Emery represents the next generation, while the experience of N’Golo Kante provides balance and composure. At the back, William Saliba and Dayot Upamecano could form one of the strongest defensive partnerships in the tournament.

This World Cup carries additional significance for head coach Didier Deschamps.

A World Cup-winning captain in 1998 and a World Cup-winning coach in 2018, Deschamps has confirmed that this tournament will be his last in charge of France. His tenure has delivered remarkable consistency, including the 2018 triumph and a runner-up finish in 2022. Few managers in international football history can match such a record.

Despite concerns over the relative inexperience of some of his younger players, Deschamps remains confident in the talent at his disposal. The France manager acknowledged that the squad lacks the experience of previous generations but insisted there is no shortage of quality.

“In terms of individual talent, there's a lot of firepower and I've got plenty of options,” he said, while stressing the responsibility that comes with representing France: “When you join the French national team, you don’t come here to take. You’re here to give.”

On paper, a third consecutive final seems well within reach for Les Bleus. The veteran coach has repeatedly emphasised the special significance of the World Cup, describing becoming world champion as the ultimate achievement in football. As he prepares for his farewell campaign, the opportunity to leave with another trophy provides a compelling narrative for France’s tournament.

Anything less than a semi-final appearance would be viewed as a disappointment for France. Their blend of elite experience, tactical discipline and attacking firepower places them firmly among the favourites to win the competition. Analysts continue to rank Les Bleus among the strongest contenders alongside traditional heavyweights such as Spain, Argentina, Brazil and England.

France have been drawn in Group I and will begin their campaign against Senegal, before taking on Iraq and Norway, as they look to secure a place in the knockout rounds.

Doha, Qatar: From Uruguay captain Jose Nasazzi becoming the first man to lift the Jules Rimet Trophy in Montevideo in 1930 to Lionel Messi fulfilling his lifelong dream beneath the lights of Lusail Stadium in Qatar in 2022, FIFA World Cup finals have produced some of the most unforgettable moments in sporting history.

For nearly a century, the final match of the world’s biggest sporting event has served as the ultimate stage for football’s greatest heroes and its most painful disappointments. It has witnessed legendary triumphs, dramatic comebacks, controversial decisions, historic firsts and heartbreaking defeats that have shaped the legacy of nations and players alike.

Across 22 editions, World Cup finals have delivered stories that transcend football itself, from the silence that swept across the Maracana in 1950 and Pele’s emergence as a global superstar in 1958, to Diego Maradona’s crowning moment in 1986, Zinedine Zidane’s dramatic farewell in 2006 and Messi’s long-awaited coronation in 2022.

Ahead of the FIFA World Cup 2026, The Peninsula looks back at every World Cup final and the defining moments that turned each one into a chapter of football history.

1930 – Uruguay 4-2 Argentina

The first-ever FIFA World Cup final saw hosts Uruguay overcome neighbours Argentina at Estadio Centenario in Montevideo. Goals from Pablo Dorado, Jose Pedro Cea, Santos Iriarte and Héctor Castro secured a comeback victory and crowned Uruguay as football’s inaugural world champions.

1934 – Italy 2-1 Czechoslovakia

Italy claimed its maiden World Cup title on home soil at Stadio Nazionale PNF (Rome) after Angelo Schiavio scored the decisive goal in extra time. The victory marked the beginning of Italy’s emergence as one of football’s traditional powerhouses.

1938 – Italy 4-2 Hungary

Led by the prolific Silvio Piola and Gino Colaussi, Italy became the first nation to successfully defend the World Cup trophy, defeating Hungary at Stade Olympique de Colombes, Colombes, and establishing a record that would stand for decades.

1950 – Uruguay 2-1 Brazil

Although not officially a final under the tournament’s format, the decisive match between Brazil and Uruguay effectively determined the champion. Before nearly 174,000 spectators at the Maracana, Alcides Ghiggia stunned the host nation with the winning goal in one of football’s greatest upsets, forever remembered as the “Maracanazo.”

1954 – West Germany 3-2 Hungary

Heavy favourites Hungary entered the final unbeaten in four years and had already defeated West Germany 8-3 earlier in the tournament. Yet Germany staged one of the greatest shocks in football history at Wankdorf Stadium, Bern, recovering from a two-goal deficit to lift its first World Cup trophy.

1958 – Brazil 5-2 Sweden

A 17-year-old named Pelé introduced himself to the world with two goals as Brazil defeated hosts Sweden at Rasunda Stadium, Solna. The teenager’s brilliance helped launch one of football’s greatest careers while delivering Brazil’s first World Cup title.

1962 – Brazil 3-1 Czechoslovakia

Despite losing Pelé to injury early in the tournament, Brazil retained the trophy at Estadio Nacional, Santiago, through a collective effort led by Amarildo, Zito and Vavá. The victory cemented Brazil’s status as the dominant force in world football.

1966 – England 4-2 West Germany

England captured its only World Cup title at Wembley Stadium in one of the most debated finals in history. Geoff Hurst scored a hat-trick, including the famous disputed goal that remains one of football’s most controversial moments.

1970 – Brazil 4-1 Italy

Widely regarded as one of the greatest teams ever assembled, Brazil’s 1970 side dazzled the football world. The final is remembered for Carlos Alberto’s iconic goal following a flowing team move that many consider the greatest goal in World Cup history at Estadio Azteca, Mexico City.

1974 – West Germany 2-1 Netherlands

The Netherlands took the lead through Johan Neeskens before West Germany had touched the ball. Yet the hosts recovered to win through Paul Breitner and Gerd Müller, denying Johan Cruyff’s revolutionary Dutch side a world title at Olympiastadion, Munich.

1978 – Argentina 3-1 Netherlands

Mario Kempes delivered one of the finest performances in World Cup final history, scoring twice as Argentina secured its first world title on home soil at Estadio Monumental, Buenos Aires, after extra time.

1982 – Italy 3-1 West Germany

Italy completed a remarkable resurgence after a difficult start to the tournament. Paolo Rossi, Marco Tardelli and Alessandro Altobelli scored in Madrid, while Tardelli’s emotional celebration became one of football’s most enduring images.

1986 – Argentina 3-2 West Germany

Although he did not score in the final, Diego Maradona orchestrated Argentina’s triumph and completed one of the greatest individual World Cup campaigns ever witnessed. Jorge Burruchaga’s late winner sealed Argentina’s second title at Estadio Azteca, Mexico City.

1990 – West Germany 1-0 Argentina

One of the most defensive World Cup finals in history was settled by Andreas Brehme’s late penalty at Stadio Olimpico, Rome. It remains the only World Cup final won through a penalty goal scored during normal play.

1994 – Brazil 0-0 Italy (Brazil 3-2 on penalties)

For the first time, a World Cup final was decided by a penalty shootout. Roberto Baggio’s decisive penalty sailed over the crossbar, handing Brazil a record fourth World Cup title and producing one of football’s most heartbreaking images at the Rose Bowl, Pasadena, California.

1998 – France 3-0 Brazil

Zinedine Zidane scored twice with headers as hosts France claimed their first World Cup title at Stade de France, Saint-Denis. The victory sparked celebrations across the country and transformed Zidane into a national icon.

2002 – Brazil 2-0 Germany

Ronaldo Luís Nazário de Lima completed one of football’s greatest comeback stories after his knee injury by scoring both goals in Yokohama to secure Brazil’s fifth World Cup crown.

2006 – Italy 1-1 France (Italy 5-3 on penalties)

The final is remembered as much for Zinedine Zidane’s infamous headbutt on Marco Materazzi as for Italy’s triumph at Olympiastadion, Berlin. The incident ended one of football’s greatest careers dramatically before Italy prevailed on penalties.

2010 – Spain 1-0 Netherlands

Andrés Iniesta’s extra-time strike at Soccer City in Johannesburg delivered Spain’s first World Cup title and completed an era of dominance built around possession-based football.

2014 – Germany 1-0 Argentina

Mario Götze emerged from the bench to score a stunning extra-time winner at the Maracanã, giving Germany its fourth World Cup title and denying Lionel Messi the trophy he coveted most.

2018 – France 4-2 Croatia

France captured its second World Cup title in Moscow, while 19-year-old Kylian Mbappé became the first teenager since Pelé in 1958 to score in a World Cup final.

2022 – Argentina 3-3 France (Argentina 4-2 on penalties)

Often described as the greatest World Cup final ever played, the match featured Lionel Messi’s brace, Kylian Mbappé’s hat-trick and a dramatic penalty shootout. Argentina emerged victorious as Messi finally lifted the trophy that had eluded him throughout his illustrious career, before being presented the iconic Qatari bisht during the trophy ceremony at Lusail Stadium.

From Nasazzi’s pioneering triumph in Montevideo to Messi’s crowning moment in Lusail, every World Cup final has added a unique chapter to football’s greatest story. Together, they form a timeline of unforgettable memories, defining generations of players and inspiring billions of fans around the world.

Montmeló, Spain: Home favourite and two-time world champion Fernando Alonso said Thursday this weekend's Catalunya Grand Prix might be his final Formula One race in Barcelona.

The Aston Martin driver, who turns 45 next month, has not announced any plans to retire, but with Barcelona set to alternate on the calendar with Spa-Francorchamps, he admitted he may never compete at the circuit again.

"It's going to be a special weekend, probably my last Barcelona race in Formula One, so thanks to everyone," Alonso told reporters.

"I don't have anything in mind yet, after the summer I will make the decision over whether to continue or not, but Barcelona won't be in the calendar next year.

"If I don't know what I'll do next year, then I can't be sure of what I will do in two years."

Alonso has been frustrated with his car this season but did score a first point last weekend in Monaco as the Spaniard came in 10th.

"I will not be competitive and I will not be long in Q1, but hopefully everyone can enjoy the weekend," said the Asturian.

"For me, the hardest thing is to not win races and not be competitive," he continued.

"If this is the last (race in Barcelona) or not is not affecting (me) too much, I am at peace with my career.

"I achieved a lot more than I ever dreamt when I was a kid."

Alonso said his team did not "deserve" the point he scored last week "in terms of pure pace" and said the struggles were bound to continue.

"(It) will be difficult to score this year, to grab any point you need some help from the cars in front," he added.

Alonso won at Montmelo in 2006 and 2013, with the former standing out as his favourite memory at the circuit.

"When you win, it becomes a special race. So I have to say 2006, because there were great expectations for us after winning the championship in 2005," he said.

"Being on pole, everyone expected me to win that Sunday... I'll remember that as the best memory."

Washington, United States: World Cup matches in the 11 US host cities will be "very secure," the country's top official overseeing tournament security said Thursday, though he voiced concern over lone wolf attacks, especially in public areas.

"We feel like we're as safe as we can possibly be. But we can't control, you know, the lone wolf," Markwayne Mullin, head of the Department of Homeland Security, said on "Fox and Friends."

"You have the issue with what we call the soft area, which is before you get into the security ring that we're very concerned about," he said, hours before the start of the tournament that the United States is co-hosting with Canada and Mexico.

Mullin said local and state law enforcement officers will be "flexing" in those areas to ensure crowd safety.

"The games are going to be very secure," he said.

The tournament, which kicks off Thursday in Mexico with a match-up between the hosts and South Africa, will see 78 of its games played in the United States.

For Americans more accustomed to their home-grown version of football, Mullin made a comparison to highlight the interest in the global extravaganza.

"Seventy-eight Super Bowls in 38 days. We will have crowds bigger than the Super Bowl," he said. "We have 250 million people that watch the Super Bowl, we'll have 1.4 billion watch the FIFA games."