France coach Didier Deschamps has confirmed that captain Kylian Mbappe will undergo medical examinations on his right ankle after sustaining a knock during Real Madrid’s 3-1 La Liga win over Villarreal on Saturday.
The injury has raised concerns about Mbappe’s availability for France’s upcoming 2026 World Cup qualifying matches against Azerbaijan and Iceland. Speaking at the French team’s Clairefontaine base near Paris on Monday, Deschamps reassured reporters that the issue was not severe.
“I spoke with Kylian, he had a small niggle but it’s not serious, otherwise he wouldn’t be here today,” Deschamps said. “We will take the time with the medical staff to assess the situation and then see how it develops. I don’t have any further information at this stage as the players will be arriving around 4pm (1400 GMT), so we’ll take stock then as usual.”
Liverpool defender Ibrahima Konate is also set to undergo medical tests after being forced off during the Reds’ 2-1 loss to Chelsea on Saturday.
Les Bleus currently top their qualifying group with two wins from two matches. They will host Azerbaijan at Paris Saint-Germain’s Parc des Princes on Friday before travelling to Iceland three days later.
What you should know
Kylian Mbappe’s ankle injury has prompted precautionary medical checks ahead of France’s World Cup qualifiers.
While coach Didier Deschamps insists the problem isn’t serious, the French captain’s fitness will be closely monitored as Les Bleus aim to maintain their perfect qualifying record.
