France maintained their streak of qualifying for every World Cup in the 20th century by qualifying for the 2026 FIFA World Cup. It is their seventh straight tournament at the global stage since 1998. While Les Blues became a more formidable force in more recent years at the FIFA World Cup, reaching back-to-back finals in the previous edition, their history lies deeper in the tournament. They were one of the four European sides to participate in the inaugural edition 95 years ago and made a podium finish six times. France has produced stars and legends of the game at this stage in each era, be it Just Fontaine, Michel Platini, Zinedine Zidane or modern-day superstars like Kylian Mbappe, who have lit up the tournament with their French fervour.
Here are the Frequently Asked Questions about France’s performance at the World Cup:
How many times has France won the FIFA World Cup?
France has won the World Cup twice. They lifted their first World Cup as hosts in 1998 and their second triumph came in 2018.
How many times has France reached the World Cup final?
France has reached four World Cup finals in 1998, 2006, 2018 and 2022. They finished as runners-up in 2006 and 2022.
How many times has France qualified for the World Cup?
After securing qualification to the 2026 FIFA World Cup, France will make their 17th appearance on the global stage.
When did France make their World Cup debut?
France made their debut in the very first World Cup in 1930 in Uruguay.
How many matches did France play at the World Cup?
France has played 73 matches at the World Cup stage.
How many matches did France win at the World Cup?
France has won 39 matches at the World Cup.
What is France’s biggest win in World Cup history?
France’s biggest win in World Cup history was beating Paraguay 7-0 in 1958.
What is France’s biggest defeat in a World Cup?
France’s biggest defeat in a World Cup was the 1-4 loss against Mexico in 1966.
How many goals did France score at the World Cup?
France has scored 136 goals in their World Cup history.
What is the highest number of goals France scored at a single World Cup?
The highest number of goals France scored at a single World Cup is 23 in 1958.
What is the highest number of goals France scored at a single World Cup match?
The highest number of goals France scored at a single World Cup match was in the 7-0 win against Paraguay in 1958.
How many goals did France concede at the World Cup?
France has conceded 80 goals at the World Cup.
What is the highest number of goals France conceded at a single World Cup?
The highest number of goals France conceded at a single World Cup is 15 in 1958.
What is the highest number of goals France conceded at a single World Cup match?
The highest number of goals France conceded at a single World Cup match is five. They conceded five goals in the 5-2 loss to Brazil in 1958 and the 5-1 loss to England in 1982.
Who is France’s all-time top scorer in World Cups?
Just Fontaine is France’s all-time top scorer in the World Cup with 13. All of his goals came in a single edition in 1958, which is the most goals scored by any player in a single World Cup.
Who is the youngest goal scorer for France in a World Cup?
The youngest goal scorer for France in a World Cup is Kylian Mbappe, who scored against Peru in the 2018 World Cup at the age of 19 years and 183 days.
Who is the oldest goal scorer for France in a World Cup?
The oldest goal scorer for France in a World Cup is Olivier Giroud, who scored against Australia in the 2022 World Cup at the age of 36. Olivier Giroud is also the leading goal scorer for France Football Team.
Who scored France’s first-ever World Cup goal?
Lucien Laurent scored France’s first-ever World Cup goal in 1930. It was also the first goal scored in World Cup history.
What is France’s longest streak of scoring in World Cup matches?
From 2018 to 2022, France scored in 11 consecutive matches in the World Cup.
Who has made the most appearances for France in World Cup history?
Hugo Lloris has made the most appearances for France in World Cup history over four editions, with 20. He also holds the record for most matches played by a goalkeeper in the World Cup.
Who is France’s youngest player to ever appear in a World Cup?
Kylian Mbappe is the youngest player to ever appear in a World Cup. He was aged 19 when he made his debut in the tournament in 2018.
Who is France’s oldest player to appear in a World Cup match?
Steve Mandanda, aged 37, is the oldest player to appear for France in a World Cup match. He started the 1-0 loss to Tunisia in the 2022 World Cup, setting the record.
Who has provided the most assists for France in World Cup history?
Antoine Griezmann is the all-time leading assist provider for France in their World Cup history with five. He provided two assists in the 2018 World Cup and a further three in 2022.
Which goalkeeper for France has the most World Cup clean sheets?
Fabien Barthez has the most clean sheets for France in the World Cup with 10. He also holds the joint all-time World Cup record for clean sheets with England's Peter Shilton.
Which player has captained France for the most World Cups?
The player who has captained France in the most World Cups is Hugo Lloris. He wore the captain armband in the 2014, 2018 and 2022 editions.
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