France

France news

Rachid Mekhloufi, Rebel United

Rebel United: Mekhloufi's sacrifice for Algerian independence

"La France, c'est vous." Translated as 'France, is you', that was what French president Charles de Gaulle told footballer Rachid Mekhloufi in 1968. Mekhloufi had just led his Saint-Etienne side to the double, and the reward was an audience with the most powerful man in the country. For Mekhloufi, this sentence brought things full circle. Now he was both Algerian and French; 10 years earlier, he had - in a sense - been neither.

FBL-WC-2022-MATCH64-ARG-FRA

'Must be asleep!' - Deschamps blasts referee after France's draw

France were held to a frustrating 2-2 draw against Iceland in what turned out to be a trickier World Cup qualifying away trip than many expected it to be. Following the game, head coach Didier Deschamps explained his unhappiness with the officiating, claiming that midfielder Manu Kone was fouled in the build up to the hosts' opening goal in the first half.

FBL-WC-2026-EUR-ISL-FRA

No Mbappe, no party as France flop in Iceland

Didier Deschamps' men were held to a 2-2 draw by a brave Iceland side in Reykjavik, as an experimental XI floundered under the pressure of their bold opponents, who belied their pre-match underdogs tag. France did score twice, coming from behind in the process, but a lack of concentration allowed the hosts to take a well-deserved point from a breathless encounter.

PADEL-FRA

'I'll definitely return' - Zidane outlines plan to be France boss

Zinedine Zidane has outlined his plan to become the next manager of the France national team as the former Real Madrid boss opened up on how his 'life changed' after retirement. Zidane has managed Los Blancos over two stints and enjoyed overwhelming success, which includes winning the Champions League three times and La Liga twice at Santiago Bernabeu.

Liverpool v Everton - Premier League

Liverpool star sent home from France camp due to injury

Premier League champions Liverpool have been dealt a blow after centre-back Ibrahima Konate was sent home from the France camp during the international break. Konate was called up by Les Bleus despite being forced off in the 56th minute of the Reds' 2-1 loss at Chelsea last weekend. The Liverpool star made the bench against Azerbaijan but won't travel to Iceland next week.

FBL-WC-2026-EUR-QUALIFIERS-FRA-AZE

Mbappe leaves France squad! Real Madrid star returns to Spain

Kylian Mbappe limped off the pitch late on during France’s clash with Azerbaijan and will now miss Les Bleus’ World Cup qualifier with Iceland after he was sent back to Real Madrid to recover. Mbappe scored a stunner at the Parc des Princes, but scenes towards the end left fans of Real Madrid and France waiting anxiously for test result updates on the injured ankle.

Mbappe Yamal Real Madrid Barcelona 2025-2026

Mbappe launches passionate defence of Barca rival Yamal

Real Madrid striker Kylian Mbappe has launched a passionate defence of Barcelona and Spain winger Lamine Yamal. There has been increased media attention on the teenage winger, who only turned 18 in July, and Mbappe has urged critics to leave the Barca star alone as he continues his establish himself as one of the best footballers in the world.

France ratings 2025

Mbappe stars in routine France win but late injury causes concern

Kylian Mbappe’s stunning solo goal helped France ease to a comfortable 3-0 victory and take another giant step towards qualifying for next years’ World Cup with victory over Azerbaijan in Paris. Adrien Rabiot and Florian Thauvin were also on target, but there were worrying scenes towards the end as talisman Mbappe signalled to come off with what looked like an ankle injury.

GFX Dayot Upamecano Ousmane Dembele

Upamecano: Dembele's Ballon d'Or win brought me to tears!

Seeing Ousmane Dembele lift the 2025 Ballon d’Or was a deeply emotional moment for Dayot Upamecano. The Bayern Munich defender, who grew up with the Paris Saint-Germain star in Evreux, admitted that watching his France teammate and childhood friend crowned the best player in the world after a sensational season brought him to tears.

GFX Kylian Mbappe Olivier Giroud

Mbappe sure he'll break Giroud's record as France's all-time top scorer

Kylian Mbappe, who needs just six goals to become his country's all-time top scorer, believes he "can score against anyone" ahead of France's World Cup qualifying clash against Azerbaijan on Friday. His participation in the game, however, remains uncertain, with the Frenchman picking up a minor ankle sprain in Real Madrid's 3-1 win over Villarreal in La Liga last weekend.

William Saliba Ibrahima Konate Arsenal Liverpool trophy

Konate teases Saliba about Arsenal's Premier League title hopes

Liverpool defender Ibrahima Konate has teased international team-mate William Saliba about Arsenal’s Premier League title hopes, with two French defenders locking horns again in a bid to establish domestic dominance in the English top-flight. That crown currently resides at Anfield, but a thrilling start to the 2025-26 campaign suggests that north London heavyweights are ready to compete for major honours once again.

Kylian Mbappe Zinedine Zidane France

Mbappe told he will 'never be thought of as highly as Zidane'

Real Madrid star Kylian Mbappe has been brutally told that he "will never be thought of as highly as Zinedine Zidane" by fans in France. Mbappe has won the World Cup with the national team at the age of 18 and then reached the final in the subsequent edition in 2022, where he emerged as the highest goal-scorer with eight in the tournament.

FBL-WC-2026-EUR-QUALIFIERS-FRA-ISL

'I'm the same player!' - Coman defends France call up after Saudi switch

Kingsley Coman has once again been called up by France boss Didier Deschamps for the upcoming World Cup qualifying matches this month after the winger left Bayern Munich in the summer to join Saudi Arabian side Al-Nassr. The 29-year-old has defended the coach's decision to keep him in the squad, claiming he is just as good as he was when called up as an injury replacement in September.

Crystal Palace v Nottingham Forest - Premier League

Mateta suggests he could leave Crystal Palace

Crystal Palace hero Jean-Philippe Mateta has hinted he could leave the club in the near future as he wants to compete for the "Champions League and the biggest trophies". Mateta has displayed sublime form for Palace in recent years, having scored 30 Premier League goals in the last two seasons. The Frenchman also played a key role in the Eagles winning the FA Cup, beating Manchester City in the final.

Ukraine v France - FIFA World Cup 2026 Qualifier

PSG left fuming over Barcola injury as feud with FFF intensifies

Ahead of the upcoming World Cup qualifiers, tensions are running high between Paris Saint-Germain and the French Football Federation (FFF) after Bradley Barcola suffered an injury. The Federation insisted in their statement that Barcola suffered an injury in the recent Champions League clash, much to the fury of Les Parisiens. The feud which ignited in September following injuries to Ousmane Dembele and Desire Doue seems to have intensified.

Real-Madrid-CF-v-Villarreal-CF-LaLiga-EA-Sports

Madrid provide Mbappe update amid new injury concern

Real Madrid have provided an update on Kylian Mbappe's ankle injury, suggesting the star striker will take part in France's upcoming international fixtures despite limping out of Los Blancos' 3-1 win over Villarreal. The 26-year-old scored his side's third goal of the game, before he was substituted in the 83rd minute after spraining his right ankle.

FBL-ESP-LIGA-RAYO VALLECANO-REAL MADRID

Zidane's son receives first international call-up

Zinedine Zidane's son Luca has earned his first national team call-up as he has been included in Algeria's squad for their upcoming World Cup qualifiers. Luca, born in France, has represented the French national team at youth level, but never broke into the senior team. However, the former Real Madrid goalkeeper has finally got an opportunity to make his international debut.

Kylian Mbappe France 2025

Mbappe is 'even more deadly' for France, says Deschamps

France manager Didier Deschamps claims Real Madrid striker Kylian Mbappe possesses a remarkable range of abilities, adapting his game depending on the system, though he thrives most in a central role. The 26-year-old has recently become France’s second-highest goal scorer, surpassing national legend Thierry Henry, and continues to lead Les Bleus in their World Cup qualifiers.

FBL-EURO-2020-FRA-TRAINING

Deschamps explains what Pogba must do to earn France recall

France head coach Didier Deschamps admitted that he has no doubt that Paul Pogba's goal is to return to the national team ahead of next year's World Cup in the USA. At a press conference on Thursday, Deschamps explained what the 32-year-old must do in order to earn a recall to Les Bleus' squad, with the ex-Manchester United and Juventus player expected to make his Monaco debut later this month.

Ousmane Dembele Ballon d'Or Lionel Messi Ronaldinho

BdO winner Dembele joins Messi & Ronaldinho in elite trophy club

Ousmane Dembele has joined the likes of Lionel Messi, Ronaldinho and Zinedine Zidane in an elite trophy club after being named the 2025 Ballon d’Or winner. The Paris Saint-Germain forward was crowned the best player on the planet at a glitzy ceremony in the French capital, with the France international fending off competition from Barcelona wonderkid Lamine Yamal.

Frequently asked questions

Der Chelsea Football Club wurde am 10. März 1905 in London-Fulham gegründet.

Der FC Chelsea gehört seit Mai 2022 dem Konsortium BlueCo. Die Eigentümergruppe um den US-amerikanischen Geschäftsmann Todd Boehly und die Investmentgesellschaft Clearlake Capital erwarb den Verein für rund 2,5 Milliarden Pfund von Vorbesitzer Roman Abramovich. 

Die Blues spielen an der Stamford Bridge, einem Stadion im Londoner Stadtteil Fulham. Offiziell eröffnet wurde die Heimspielstätte des FC Chelsea bereits im Jahr 1877 - also noch vor der Vereinsgründung. In 1905 übernahm der Klub die Leichtathletikarena und baute sie in ein Fußballstadion um. 

Im Vergleich der englischen Topklubs ist die Stamford Bridge eines der kleineren Stadien. Die Arena hat eine Kapazität für rund 41.000 Fans.

Mit 34 großen Titeln gehört der Chelsea FC zu den erfolgreichsten Fußballklubs in England. Neben nationalen Pokalen konnten die Blues auch international die größten Wettbewerbe gewinnen: In 2012 und 2021 holten sie die Champions-League-Trophäe nach Hause. 

Der FC Chelsea konnte insgesamt sechsmal die englische Meisterschaft für sich entscheiden. Den ersten Titel holte der Klub in der Saison 1954/55, als die Liga noch First Division hieß, seit 2004/05 kamen noch fünf weitere Trophäen dazu. 

Ron Harris ist Rekordspieler beim Chelsea FC. Zwischen 1961 und 1980 absolvierte der Innenverteidiger 748 Pflichtspiele für die Blues.

Toptorschütze des Vereins ist ein Mittelfeldspieler: Frank Lampard konnte in 648 Einsätzen 211-mal zuschlagen. 

Zahlreiche Weltstars haben bereits das Trikot der Blues getragen, die wohl bekanntesten Namen stammen aus der Erfolgsphase seit den frühen 2000ern. Unter anderem standen Frank Lampard, John Terry, Didier Drogba, Petr Cech, Eden Hazard, Gianfranco Zola, Claude Makelele, N’Golo Kante, Ashley Cole und Michael Ballack für die Londoner auf dem Rasen. 

Auch auf der Trainerbank haben schon einige bekannte Namen gesessen. Den größten Erfolg hatte Chelsea unter Jose Mourinho, mit ihm an der Seitenlinie holte der Verein acht Titel (u. a. 3x Premier League, 3x League Cup, 1x FA Cup, 1x Community Shield). Bei den beiden CL-Trophäen coachten Roberto Di Matteo (2012) und Thomas Tuchel (2021), unter Carlo Ancelotti holten die Blues das Double aus Liga und FA Cup (2009/10).

Aufgrund der Vereinsfarben ist der FC Chelsea auch unter dem Spitznamen "The Blues" bekannt.