Just days before their opening match at the 2026 World Cup, the French national team unexpectedly became entangled in an internal controversy as Kylian Mbappe and Michael Olise left the headquarters, sparking widespread speculation in the dressing room.
Mbappe and Olise cause controversy ahead of the 2026 World Cup
Just a few days before the 2026 World Cup kicks off, the French national team is unexpectedly facing internal controversies involving two stars, Kylian Mbappe and Michael Olise, making the atmosphere at “Les Bleus” headquarters more tense than ever.
According to sources from RMC Sport and 90min, Mbappe and Olise temporarily left the French team’s training camp following a 3-1 victory over Northern Ireland in their final friendly match ahead of the World Cup. Although these trips were approved by the coaching staff, the decision has still been met with mixed opinions within the squad.
Specifically, Mbappe returned to Madrid while Olise traveled to Munich. The departure of the two players from the headquarters right on the verge of the team entering the biggest tournament on the planet is said to have left a faction of the French squad dissatisfied.
Mbappe continues to be the focal point
This is not the first time Mbappe has become a topic of discussion within the French team recently. Previously, a video circulated on social media capturing the moment the Real Madrid forward seemingly ignored a handshake from N’Golo Kante before a friendly match against Ivory Coast.
Although there is no evidence to suggest a serious conflict exists between the players, this image still fueled speculation about a distance between the leaders in the dressing room of the Les Bleus.
Not only that, L’Équipe also revealed an exchange between Ousmane Dembele and Mbappe. Accordingly, the PSG star reportedly asked the French captain to be more active in supporting the defense and participating in pressing alongside the whole team when out of possession.
