Paris, France – Kylian Mbappe, the captain of the French national team, confirmed that “Les Bleus” are entering the 2026 World Cup with great ambitions to win the title, stressing that his team has the necessary experience to deal with the pressures of the tournament.
Mbappe told French channel M6: “In the two World Cups I participated in, I sometimes felt socially alienated because of the 60-day isolation, but if it were easy, everyone would have participated in the World Cup”.
He added: “We know that we are part of a minority, a situation we should never forget, and we must accept it for better or for worse. To make history you have to suffer and be prepared to suffer. We did it once and almost did it a second time, so we know the way”.
The French captain stressed his team’s desire to compete for the title, saying: “Every team will go to the World Cup with the goal of making history, but no team is more eager to win than us”.
Mbappe spoke about his role within the national team, explaining: “I have started to gain more experience as a player, and it is my pleasure to lead the team on an emotional level more than anything else, because the technical quality is already there, and I will not teach my teammates how to play football”.
He continued: “The emotional aspect and knowing that the whole world stops to watch you is the biggest opponent in the World Cup, and that must be well controlled. Building a successful team depends not only on skill, but also on managing individuals and maintaining focus throughout the tournament”.
Mbappe concluded his remarks by saying: “Why should we curb our ambition? These are mature players, but enthusiasm can turn into pressure, and in the World Cup any mistake could mean going home. We have already sent the message, but we have not made history yet, and we have to make it”.
