This Thursday evening at 9 PM (French time), the French national team is set to face Brazil in Foxborough, south of Boston. This friendly match is part of Les Bleus’ preparation for the 2026 World Cup. For this inaugural game of a mini-tour in the United States, coach Didier Deschamps is expected to field a decidedly offensive lineup, featuring four attacking players.
This series of matches in the U.S., which will also include a clash against Colombia on Sunday (9 PM French time), aims to allow Didier Deschamps to evaluate as many players as possible in anticipation of future challenges.
For Thursday’s match, Mike Maignan is expected to earn his 38th cap in goal. The defense will likely consist of Malo Gusto, Dayot Upamecano, Ibrahima Konaté, and Théo Hernandez. In midfield, Aurélien Tchouaméni and Adrien Rabiot are anticipated to form the central duo.
Les Bleus’ attack will be particularly watched, as the team intends to deploy its key assets. Ousmane Dembélé, Michael Olise, and Désiré Doué are expected to play in support of Kylian Mbappé. The captain’s positioning, accustomed to playing centrally for Paris Saint-Germain, will be closely observed.
Mbappé to Start with Managed Playing Time
Kylian Mbappé, although set to start at Gillette Stadium, is expected to have his playing time limited for this high-profile match. A participation of approximately one hour is anticipated. Didier Deschamps confirmed yesterday to the media: “He can start, but not play the entire match. He can come on as a substitute, like the other 24 players. He is part of this consideration. Every player has a particular situation.”
Probable France Starting XI vs. Brazil:
Maignan – Gusto, Upamecano, Konaté, T.Hernandez – Tchouaméni, Rabiot – Dembélé, Olise, Doué – Mbappé.
