Will Kylian Mbappé play for France against Brazil?
The Real Madrid striker has been in the headlines this week after recovering from injury.
France and Brazil go back a long way: as two World Cup heavyweights, the expectations are high this summer at the tournament, and Kylian Mbappé is at the centre of it all.
The player is coming into the March international break in a curious moment with Real Madrid, having undergone a long process of recovery from a knee injury that has been reportedly giving him pain since December.
Kylian Mbappé's magic solo goal takes top spot 🥇#EQGOTT | @AlipayPlus | #WCQ pic.twitter.com/BUjojg9kwR
— UEFA EURO (@UEFAEURO) October 13, 2025
Will Mbappé play for France against Brazil?
Long story short, he might. The player is only just back in contention for a place in the Real Madrid XI but does not appear fit to start, with Álvaro Arbeloa choosing to keep him on the bench until the second half in two high-profile games, against Manchester City and Atlético Madrid.
However, whether or not France manager Didier Deschamps feels that Mbappé is ready to go from the off is another question, with both fans and the media on tenterhooks as to whether or not he gets the green light to start the game.
France take on Brazil at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough on Thursday as part of their pre-World Cup 2026 plans. Two of the tournament favourites will go head to head at 4 p.m. ET, and the game can be followed live on AS USA.
France squad to face Brazil and Colombia:
- Goalkeepers: Lucas Chevalier, Mike Maignan, Brice Samba
- Defenders: Lucas Digne, Malo Gusto, Lucas Hernández, Theo Hernández, Pierre Kalulu, Ibrahima Konaté, Maxence Lacroix, Dayot Upamecano
- Midfielders: Eduardo Camavinga, N’Golo Kanté, Manu Koné, Adrien Rabiot, Aurélien Tchouaméni, Warren Zaïre-Emery
- Forwards: Maghnes Akliouche, Rayan Cherki, Ousmane Dembélé, Desiré Doué, Hugo Ekitike, Randal Kolo Muani, Kylian Mbappé, Michael Olise, Marcus Thuram
🔍👕🆕 pic.twitter.com/rfDoSae976
— Equipe de France ⭐⭐ (@equipedefrance) March 23, 2026
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