World Cup 2026: Paul Pogba opens up about his absence from the French National Team

Paul Pogba would have obviously liked to experience the 2026 World Cup on the pitch, wearing the French team jersey. But the 2018 World Champion has never really held any illusions. Present in the United States alongside the tournament, the AS Monaco midfielder acknowledged with clarity that his return to the national team was not a realistic short-term goal. As an ambassador for the equipment manufacturer Adidas, Paul Pogba has set up in Los Angeles, where he is participating in several events related to the World Cup. He is also expected to closely follow the matches of the Blues, notably France’s opening match against Senegal, scheduled for Tuesday, June 16, 2026, at MetLife Stadium in New York, in Group I.

But this World Cup, Pogba will experience it as a supporter. The 33-year-old player was not called up by Didier Deschamps, a logical absence given his very limited season with Monaco. According to L’Équipe, the former Manchester United and Juventus player has played only six matches this season, totalling 115 minutes on the pitch.

Paul Pogba admits this himself. His arrival at Monaco was not conceived as a last-minute operation to secure a place on the Blues’ roster. After a very long period without competition, his first objective lay elsewhere. “I didn’t come to Monaco thinking: ‘I’m coming to play in the World Cup.’ It had been a long time since I last played. My goal was just to return to competition and to come back physically in good shape,” he confided to L’Équipe.

This statement summarizes the situation of the French midfielder. Before thinking about the French team, Pogba first needed to regain his body, his feelings, and the rhythm of the top level. His return to Monaco, officially confirmed in 2025 after the end of his suspension, was meant to allow him to restart a career hampered by injuries, physical issues, and a long absence from the pitch. Reuters reminds us that Pogba had joined AS Monaco for two seasons after an 18-month suspension, which was reduced on appeal, and after the termination of his contract with Juventus in November 2024.

Under these circumstances, aiming directly for the World Cup was more of a dream than a realistic plan. Pogba knows this. His body was not yet ready to string together matches, and his playing time was not enough to convince the Blues’ coaching staff.

The Blues, an “ultra-bonus”. “I’m coming back from afar”

The French team remains in the back of his mind, but it is no longer an immediate obsession. Paul Pogba now talks about the Blues as a distant goal, almost secondary to his personal reconstruction. “That’s the ultimate case, the ultra-bonus. I need to feel good first. Anyway, when you’re performing well with your club, you have a better chance of going to the national team,” he explained.

His last selection dates back to March 2022. Since then, the midfielder has gone through a long period of inactivity, marked by injuries, a suspension, and a gradual return to competition. This prolonged absence has distanced him from the French group, where competition in midfield has become very intense. Didier Deschamps has often reiterated his attachment to the player, but a World Cup cannot be prepared based on status alone. To return to the Blues, Pogba will first need to become a regular starter in his club. Above all, he must demonstrate that he can handle the physical intensity of the very top level.

Paul Pogba does not hide the difficulty of his return. The former key player for the Blues knows that he hasn’t just missed matches. He has primarily missed rhythm, a decisive element for a player expected to play in midfield. “For me, I’m coming back from afar, so it’s not like I wasn’t expecting it,” he acknowledged. “What I’ve been missing is rhythm. We won’t talk technically, as the coaches and players see it in training. It’s more about being physically fit, especially when you’ve had a series of problems, including before the suspension.”

This lucidity contrasts with the expectations that accompanied his arrival at Monaco. For many supporters, Pogba’s signing in Ligue 1 had immediately reopened the debate about a possible return to the French team before the 2026 World Cup. But the reality on the field has been harsher. His official return has been delayed and then limited by persistent physical difficulties.

Le Monde already pointed out in January 2026 that the Monaco gamble was struggling to yield results, with Pogba still hindered by physical problems and very little used in competition.

A World Champion Turned Supporter

Despite his absence, Paul Pogba harbors no bitterness. The 2018 World Champion says he is eager to see the Blues in action in this 2026 World Cup, held in the United States, Mexico, and Canada.

France will begin its tournament against Senegal on Tuesday, June 16, at MetLife Stadium in New York. FIFA confirms that this match will kick off the Blues’ campaign in Group I, before facing Iraq and Norway.

Pogba also hopes to spend some time with the French group, without disrupting their preparation. “I’ll check with the staff; I don’t want to disturb, but it would please me to see the coach for his last. It’s important to me to go and show him my support. I’ll be there to cheer them on!” he shared.

This statement has a particular resonance. Didier Deschamps is playing his last major competition at the helm of the Blues, and Pogba has been one of the key figures of his successful cycle. In 2018, in Russia, the French midfielder was one of the symbols of the World Championship victory, due to his influence in the locker room, his playing volume, and his goal in the final against Croatia.

Eight years later, the landscape has changed. Pogba is no longer part of the group, but his attachment to the Blues remains. He will be in the United States, not as a player, but as a supporter of a generation striving to write a new chapter.

A Return to the Top Level Still to Build

For Paul Pogba, the real battle now lies elsewhere. It is no longer about catching the train to the 2026 World Cup but about sustainably rebuilding his career. At 33, after several troubled seasons, the midfielder knows that the priority is physical. “I need to feel good. That’s what I need to return to the top level,” he summarized.

His future with the French team will depend on this reconstruction. If he regains playing time, consistency, and a level compatible with international demands, the door might theoretically reopen. But Pogba no longer wants to rush things.

The 2026 World Cup will thus be played without him. But his discourse shows a player at peace, aware of the journey made and the limitations of the moment. Paul Pogba is not officially turning the page on the Blues. He simply admits that before dreaming of selection again, he must first become a full footballer once more.