​There are seven World Cup titles among the eight teams still alive in the quarterfinals of the 2026 tournament. France holds two of those trophies and is pressing to match Argentina with a third World Cup triumph. The French national team, known as Les Bleus, has a long and storied presence in soccer’s premier event. They participated in the very first World Cup in 1930 and have returned to the tournament many times since. France even has the rare distinction of having won the title on home soil, lifting the trophy in Paris in 1998 when they defeated Brazil in the final. That victory remains a landmark in the nation’s football history.
Over the decades, France has featured some of the sport’s greatest players, including Zinedine Zidane, Thierry Henry, Paul Pogba, and the current star striker Kylian Mbappé. Here is a concise look at France’s World Cup journey and milestones. France took part in the inaugural 1930 World Cup, the only European nation to do so that year. In that tournament, Les Bleus were placed in Group 1 alongside Mexico, Chile, and Argentina, but they failed to advance beyond the group stage. Since then, France has appeared in 17 World Cup finals tournaments: 1930, 1934, 1938, 1954, 1958, 1966, 1978, 1982, 1986, 1998, 2002, 2006, 2010, 2014, 2018, 2022, and the 2026 competition currently being played.
If there is a record to note, Brazil holds the most appearances, having participated in every World Cup held to date. Among the nations, France is one of only six to have won the World Cup while hosting the tournament. France’s first title came in 1998 when they defeated Brazil 3-0 in the final held in Paris, a triumph energized by Zinedine Zidane’s two goals. The French team advanced from Group C, which included Denmark, South Africa, and Saudi Arabia, and achieved a perfect record with three wins. In the quarterfinals, France defeated Italy on penalties, and Fabien Barthez earned the Golden Glove as the tournament’s best goalkeeper.
Didier Deschamps, France’s manager, had previously been a member of the squad as a defender during that 1998 triumph. France’s second World Cup title came in 2018, when they defeated Croatia 4-2 in the final in Russia. In that tournament, four different players—Mario Mandžukić (own goal), Antoine Griezmann, Paul Pogba, and Kylian Mbappé—made pivotal contributions to the victory. France reached the final after defeating Argentina, Uruguay, and Belgium en route, advancing from Group C alongside Denmark, Peru, and Australia.
France has reached the World Cup final on four occasions: 1998, 2006, 2018, and 2022. Their first triumph came in 1998 with a 3-0 win over Brazil, and their runner-up finish in 2006 came after a 5-3 penalty shootout loss to Italy following a 1-1 draw in regular time. The 2018 victory was a 4-2 win against Croatia, and in 2022, France fell to Argentina in a penalty shootout, 4-2, after a 3-3 draw that extended into extra time.
France has produced several players who have earned the World Cup Best Young Player award. Manuel Amoros, for example, was the first to win this honors in 1982 at the age of 21. France’s World Cup history is rich with talent and dramatic moments, and as the 2026 edition advances, Les Bleus remain a central figure in the ongoing narrative of football’s most celebrated competition.