France legend Thierry Henry has backed his country to lift the 2026 FIFA World Cup trophy, while identifying Senegal as a potential surprise package at the tournament.
While speaking ahead of the competition’s kickoff, the former Arsenal striker said France’s greatest advantage heading into the tournament is the depth of their squad under manager Didier Deschamps.
“I see France as the top contender, partly because I’m French, but also because we’ve reached the last two finals,” Henry said. “Squad depth is crucial. If your substitutes are on par with the starting eleven, it’s a huge advantage, especially in such a long tournament after an intense season.”
France won the 2018 World Cup in Russia and reached the final in Qatar 2022, where they lost to Argentina on penalties after a 3-3 draw in regulation time. Henry believes the current squad is the strongest Deschamps has had at his disposal, with little to no drop in quality between the starting lineup and the substitutes bench.
Beyond France, he named Spain, Argentina, Portugal and England as serious contenders, while flagging Norway and Senegal as teams capable of causing upsets. “Surprises like Norway or Senegal are possible,” he said.
On Germany, Henry struck a polite but measured tone, saying he was waiting to see Die Mannschaft rediscover their best form, while making clear his support would switch immediately if they faced France. “I wish Julian Nagelsmann and his team all the best, unless they play against France,” he added.
France open their campaign in Group I against Senegal on June 16, meaning the two sides Henry mentioned in the same breath will meet in the tournament’s opening stages.
