Paul Pogba's World Cup dreams have been dashed once again, as the French midfielder was left out of Didier Deschamps' 26-man squad for the 2026 tournament.
What happened?
Pogba's omission from the World Cup squad has been attributed to his severe lack of match sharpness, which has been a recurring issue for the 33-year-old midfielder. In an interview, Pogba admitted that participating in the tournament was always an unrealistic dream due to his fitness concerns.
Why it matters for Paul Pogba
Pogba's absence from the World Cup squad is a significant blow to his career, which has been marred by injuries and a doping ban. The midfielder has been struggling to regain his form since returning to action in March 2025, after serving an 18-month suspension for testing positive for a banned substance.
What comes next?
Pogba has been working tirelessly to regain his fitness and is currently attending the World Cup in a commercial capacity as an ambassador for Adidas. Despite missing out on a spot in the final squad, Pogba plans to closely follow the French team's progress as a dedicated fan and is eager to visit the squad and support Deschamps, who is managing what is set to be his final major tournament for Les Bleus.
Pogba's prolonged absence from the national team has been attributed to the incredible depth in the middle of the pitch, which has made it difficult for him to break back into the squad. Despite his efforts, Pogba has candidly accepted his current situation, describing a potential return to the national team as an "ultra-bonus" rather than an immediate obsession.
Injury struggles
Pogba's return to football has been hampered by persistent knee injuries, which have forced him to miss large portions of the 2025-26 season. The midfielder's struggles have been well-documented, and his absence from the World Cup squad is a testament to the challenges he has faced in recent years.
Supporting the team
Despite missing out on a spot in the final squad, Pogba has still flown to the United States this summer to attend the tournament in a commercial capacity. He is currently working as an official ambassador for Adidas and plans to closely follow the French team's progress as a dedicated fan.
France will be hoping to continue their impressive run without Pogba when they face Morocco in the quarter-finals on Thursday evening. The highly anticipated match takes place at the Boston Stadium in Massachussetts, serving as a rematch of their semi-final four years ago in Qatar.
Pogba's omission from the World Cup squad is a significant blow to his career, but the midfielder remains focused on his primary goal of returning to peak physical condition and getting consistent minutes for his club.