France Calls Up Akliouche, Omits Ekitike for World Cup Qualifiers

Maghnes Akliouche received his maiden call-up to the French national team for the World Cup 2026 qualifiers against Ukraine and Iceland, highlighting his rise following his role in France's silver medal-winning squad at the Paris 2024 Olympics. Despite his strong start at Liverpool with three goals in three matches, striker Hugo Ekitike was surprisingly omitted from the squad, underscoring the intense competition for attacking roles. Coach Didier Deschamps named a forward line featuring stars Kylian Mbappe and Ousmane Dembele, alongside emerging talents like Akliouche and Rayan Cherki. Defensively, William Saliba returns to the squad after recovering from injury, with Chelsea’s Malo Gusto and Liverpool’s Ibrahima Konate also included. The squad reflects a blend of experienced players and promising newcomers as France aims to secure qualification for the World Cup finals. Additionally, Adrien Rabiot was named despite recent club controversies, indicating a complex selection process.