Didier Deschamps wants to talk about football. The rest of France, apparently, has other plans.
The French national team coach announced his World Cup squad on May 14-15, and what should have been a celebration of talent quickly devolved into a circus of accusations, grievances, and former legends airing dirty laundry. Michel Platini, one of the greatest players to ever wear the French jersey, publicly accused captain Kylian Mbappé of creating distractions during World Cup preparations. Deschamps responded by drawing a firm line in the sand.
“If there’s one wish I have, it’s for you to ask my players about the opponents, about football. I understand that you might feel obliged to ask other questions, but they’re not there to answer them.”
The 2026 FIFA World Cup runs from June 11 to July 19 across the US, Canada, and Mexico. FIFA named Kraken its Official Crypto Exchange Supporter on June 9, making crypto a visible part of the World Cup ecosystem.
The French drama, explained
