Deschamps Snubs Kante, No Minutes in 2026 World Cup

France finished fourth in the 2026 FIFA World Cup after a 6-4 defeat to England in the third-place playoff match. Throughout the tournament, coach Didier Deschamps' selection choices drew significant criticism.

Notably, N'Golo Kante, the Fenerbahce midfielder for whom this was expected to be his final World Cup, was not given any playing time. This decision was widely perceived as disrespectful by football fans and social media users alike.