France Leaves Mbappé Out of March Friendlies Before 2026 World Cup

Decision made to give striker time to recover from knee injury ahead of tournament

Published on Mar. 5, 2026

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France has reportedly decided to leave Kylian Mbappé out of the national team's upcoming March international friendlies, prioritizing the striker's recovery from a knee injury over the limited competitive importance of the matches. With the 2026 World Cup less than 100 days away, the French Football Federation has agreed with Mbappé that the risk of calling him up outweighs the benefit, as he continues his rehabilitation at Real Madrid.

Why it matters

Mbappé's fitness is crucial for France's chances at the 2026 World Cup, as he is considered one of the team's key players. The decision to rest him during the March friendlies reflects the national team's long-term planning and desire to have him fully fit for the tournament.

The details

Mbappé has been dealing with a knee sprain since the end of 2025, and while surgery has been ruled out, uncertainty remains over his precise return date. Real Madrid has been closely monitoring his progress, and interim head coach Álvaro Arbeloa has provided an encouraging update, stating that Mbappé is 'getting better every day' and that the news has been 'nothing but good' as he aims to be available for the Champions League Round of 16 first leg on March 11.

  • France will face Brazil on March 26 and Colombia on March 29 in the upcoming international break.
  • The 2026 FIFA World Cup is less than 100 days away.

The players

Kylian Mbappé

A French professional footballer who plays as a forward for Real Madrid and the France national team.

Didier Deschamps

The head coach of the France national team, who guided them through UEFA World Cup qualifying with a group stage victory.

Álvaro Arbeloa

The interim head coach of Real Madrid, who has provided an encouraging update on Mbappé's recovery progress.

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What they’re saying

“I speak with him every day, and of course, we're closely monitoring what's happening and how he's doing. He's getting better every day; it's a process where we're just taking it day by day. As of right now, it's nothing but good news, and he's steadily improving.”

— Álvaro Arbeloa, Interim Head Coach, Real Madrid (Diario Marca)

What’s next

Mbappé is targeting a return for Real Madrid's UEFA Champions League Round of 16 first leg on March 11, as the Spanish club enters a pivotal stretch of the season.

The takeaway

France's decision to rest Mbappé during the March international break reflects their long-term planning and desire to have their star striker fully fit for the 2026 World Cup, where he is expected to play a crucial role in the team's pursuit of the trophy.