OB U19 Panoramica

France captain Kylian Mbappe has reached out to the nation with a deeply personal open letter following the conclusion of the 2026 World Cup. The Real Madrid superstar expressed his gratitude to the supporters and his team-mates while reflecting on a tournament that ended in heartbreak for the Bleus in North America.

France are preparing to pass their managerial baton from Didier Deschamps to Zinedine Zidane, with Jeremie Aliadiere telling GOAL that Thierry Henry would “love” to follow that World Cup-winning trend and become the next boss of Les Bleus. The Arsenal legend has dipped his toe into coaching and would welcome the opportunity to take charge of his country.

Bayern Munich winger Michael Olise surprised local football enthusiasts in New York City by unexpectedly taking part in a public recreational match. Having recently concluded his international campaign with France at the World Cup, the 24-year-old was spotted playing in socks, earning widespread praise for his grounded love for the game.

Salvadoran referee Ivan Barton has broken his silence regarding the criticism aimed at him by former France manager Didier Deschamps following Les Bleus' exit from the 2026 World Cup. The match official has defended his credentials and background after his performance in France's semi-final defeat to Spain was called into question.