The French team will compete in the 2026 World Cup without any players from Olympique de Marseille. Didier Deschamps France selected 26 players for the tournament, but no Olympique de Marseille players are included in the French squad. This is a first in 40 years for a World Cup contested by Les Bleus.
A series that comes to an end
Since 1986, Olympique de Marseille (OM) had always had at least one player in the French squad when Les Bleus participated in the World Cup. The only exceptions were 1990 and 1994, years in which the French team did not qualify. The streak resumed in 1998 with Laurent Blanc and Christophe Dugarry, World Cup winners with Les Bleus. It continued in 2002 with Frank Lebœuf, in 2006 with Fabien Barthez and Franck Ribéry, and then in 2010 with Steve Mandanda and Mathieu Valbuena. In 2014, Valbuena again represented OM. In 2018, Mandanda, Adil Rami, and Florian Thauvin were part of the squad that triumphed in Russia. In 2022, Mattéo Guendouzi and Jordan Veretout were present in Qatar.
Pavard did not reverse the trend
Benjamin Pavard was the main Marseille player likely to be considered by the national team coach. He was ultimately not selected. His absence therefore confirms a clear break: no player from the Marseille squad will wear the French national team jersey during this World Cup.
Balerdi ruled out for Argentina
The Leonardo Balerdi situation adds another blow for OM. The Argentinian defender, initially included in Lionel Scaloni's squad, will ultimately not participate in the World Cup. Having injured his right calf in training with Argentina, the Marseille player has had to withdraw.
