World Cup 2026: Fontaine's epic, Seville's nightmare, two titles... A look back at the Bleus' campaigns

France kicks off its 17th World Cup campaign against Senegal, embarking on a quest for glory that spans nearly a century of highs and lows in the prestigious tournament. This latest chapter in the Bleus' World Cup saga begins with ambition, as the team seeks to avoid a faltering start.

The journey began in 1930 in Mexico, where France participated in the inaugural World Cup. Despite a promising 4-1 victory in the opening match against the hosts, with Lucien Laurent scoring the tournament's very first goal, France faltered in subsequent group games, losing to Argentina and Chile to exit early.

In 1934, Italy hosted a tournament with a different format: a knockout stage from the outset. France faced a tough Austrian side, pushing the match into extra time before ultimately losing 3-2. This marked a swift exit after just one game, though it was a near-historic performance against a top European team.

France had the honor of hosting the World Cup in 1938. The format remained knockout-based, and this time, the Bleus advanced past Belgium with a 3-1 win. However, their run ended in the quarterfinals against the reigning champions, Italy, who secured a 3-1 victory on their way to a second consecutive title.

After a hiatus due to World War II and a failure to qualify for the 1950 tournament, France returned to the World Cup stage in 1954. The format had expanded to 16 teams in four groups, with the top two advancing. Despite a win against Mexico (3-2), a loss to Yugoslavia (1-0) saw France eliminated in the group stage once again. The 1958 tournament, however, marked a significant milestone, with a formidable attack led by Just Fontaine and Raymond Kopa.