The 2026 World Cup runs from June 11 to July 19 across North America. As runners-up in Qatar 2022, France enters as one of the tournament favorites. With just weeks until kickoff, midfielder Adrien Rabiot sat down with FIFA for an exclusive interview.
Rabiot's first World Cup experience in Qatar was an emotional rollercoaster. He scored a powerful header to equalize against Australia in the opening match, helping France secure a 4-1 victory. The 31-year-old then started consecutive matches against Denmark, Poland, and England, establishing himself as a key figure in Didier Deschamps' setup. Illness forced him out before the semi-final, which France won 2-0 against Morocco. He recovered just in time for the biggest match of his career โ the World Cup final against Argentina. That epic contest ended 3-3 after extra time before Argentina prevailed 4-2 on penalties.
Three and a half years after that heartbreaking defeat, Rabiot spoke with FIFA about that final and his ambitions for the expanded 48-team tournament. France has been drawn into Group I alongside Senegal, Iraq, and Norway. Rabiot described the final as a bittersweet experience. Despite the loss, he considers it an important memory and an incredible journey from the young Adrien who first started playing football to standing on the World Cup final stage.
