With the 2026 World Cup squad selection just around the corner, players such as RC Lens’ Florian Thauvin are looking to impress Didier Deschamps and make the France World Cup squad.
The 32-year-old has recently made a surprise return to the France team, but who has he played for and has he impressed enough to make France’s 2026 World Cup squad?
Return to France in the Summer Fuels Florian Thauvin’s 2026 World Cup Credentials
Florian Thauvin last earned an international cap for Les Bleus six years ago, when he had his last notable spell of his career in France with Olympique Marseille. Since then, his journey has taken him to Mexico with Tigres and Italy with Udinese.
Florian Thauvin himself has stated that he was all set to continue in Italy this summer and sign for Fiorentina. However, a last-minute call changed his plans.
46-year-old Lens manager Pierre Sage gave the player a call, provoking a “good feeling” for Florian Thauvin, who then fulfilled his “dream” of returning to France.
The Form of RC Lens and Florian Thauvin
Lens are a side that are in good form in the early stages of the season, sitting sixth in the table after seven matches. Victories for the French side have come against the likes of Le Havre and Stade Brestois this season, with crucial ties upcoming against Marseille and Strasbourg.
The form of RC Lens is largely aided by Florian Thauvin, who has recently been named as the Ligue 1 Player of the Month for September. Thauvin has scored twice and achieved an average match rating of 6.96, with teammates Rayan Fofana and Wesley Said also having scored two goals so far this season.
Florian Thauvin’s France Appearances
In his two recent appearances for France, Florian Thauvin has accumulated 71 minutes of football, against Azerbaijan and Iceland. The 32-year-old was also able to double his goal tally for France, scoring his second international goal after one in his ten previous France appearances.
Florian Thauvin’s recent goal came with only his third touch on his return to the team, as he was able to produce an acrobatic finish against Azerbaijan to complete the 3-0 victory. That goal earned him a start in the next match, where France were only able to draw 2-2 with Iceland.
However, Florian Thauvin came away from that clash with a 7.3 match rating. Therefore, he also impressed in that fixture.
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Florian Thauvin: An Experienced Addition to the France World Cup Squad In 2026?
At the age of 32, Florian Thauvin is not the youngest member of the France squad. However, he brings experience and know-how as a player. The likes of Olivier Giroud and Karim Benzema have offered that for France in the past, and Thauvin may look to replicate such an offering.
Experience is an aspect of a squad which many international teams look to retain, along with a more youthful side to their team. This is perhaps depicted by England, who continue to include Jordan Henderson in their squad at the age of 36, along with Spain’s Alvaro Morata and Mikel Oyarzabal.
Both Henderson and Morata have had fewer notable spells in their careers in a similar manner to Florian Thauvin. However, both have also earned a recall to their national side after good spells with Brentford and Como, respectively.
Conclusion
It is certainly a very early stage to predict whether Florian Thauvin will be in the France World Cup squad next summer. However, the player has been doing everything right since his return to France with RC Lens.
Should the player continue to do so, he will more than likely be on the plane with Didier Deschamps as the France squad travel to America.
Main Photo
Credit: IMAGO / PRESSE SPORTS
Recording Date: 13.10.2025