Thursday evening, Didier Deschamps revealed his list of 26 players for the World Cup. Unsurprisingly, this does not include any element of Olympique de Marseille.
Since 1986, this is the first time that such a situation has occurred. At the time of the World Cup in Mexico, Jean-Pierre Papin was part of the French group called up by coach Henri Michel. Except that the attacker was playing in Bruges at that time. It is after this competition that he will join the Marseille city.
At the start of the season, only one OM player really seemed able to claim a place with the Blues for this event: Benjamin Pavard. The 32-year-old defender logically paid for his poor 2025-2026 financial year, knowing that he was already absent during the last two international gatherings.
OM players at the World Cup after 1986
2022 : Mattéo Guendouzi, Jordan Veretout
2018 : Steve Mandanda, Adil Rami, Florian Thauvin
2014 : Mathieu Valbuena
2010 : Steve Mandanda, Mathieu Valbuena
2006 : Fabien Barthez, Franck Ribéry
2002 : Frank Leboeuf
1998 : Laurent Blanc, Christophe Dugarry
1994: not qualified
1990: not qualified
Small consolation prize: OM will still be represented at the World Cup organized jointly by the United States, Canada and Mexico. It could have up to four representatives: three Argentines (Gerónimo Rulli, Leonardo Balerdi and perhaps Facundo Medina) and one American (Timothy Weah).
