Chelsea full-back Malo Gusto has become the first player from the club to officially secure a place at the 2026 FIFA World Cup after being named in France’s final 26-man squad.
The 22-year-old defender earned selection following an impressive season with Chelsea, where he made 47 appearances across all competitions and strengthened his growing reputation as one of Europe’s rising defensive talents.
Gusto has increasingly become a regular figure in the French national team setup over the last 18 months, earning nine senior caps for Les Bleus.
He also featured prominently during France’s World Cup qualifying campaign, making five appearances as Didier Deschamps’ side comfortably topped a group that included Ukraine, Iceland and Azerbaijan.
His inclusion highlights a remarkable rise for the former Lyon defender, who has become an important part of Chelsea’s squad since arriving in the Premier League.
France’s squad also includes former Chelsea midfielder N’Golo Kante, who remains a key figure in the national team years after helping France win the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia.
The French squad is packed with elite talent, including captain Kylian Mbappe, Ousmane Dembele, William Saliba, Theo Hernandez and Real Madrid midfielder Aurélien Tchouameni.
Young attacking stars Bradley Barcola, Rayan Cherki and Desire Doue also made the final selection as France prepare for another strong title challenge.
Goalkeeper Mike Maignan headlines the goalkeeping department, while defenders Jules Kounde, Dayot Upamecano and Ibrahima Konate provide depth at the back.
France remain one of the favourites heading into the 2026 World Cup, with expectations high after their recent consistency at major international tournaments.
The tournament will be jointly hosted by the United States, Canada and Mexico, marking the first World Cup to feature 48 teams.
For Chelsea supporters, Gusto’s selection represents another major milestone in the defender’s rapid development at both club and international level.
