2022 FIFA World Cup TV & Online Broadcast Guide for France

Topics: TV Listings, TV Schedules, Streaming Info, France, 2022 FIFA World Cup

The reigning champs will hope to become the first team since Brazil to successfully defend their World Cup title.

Watch the 2022 World Cup in France - Match Schedule, TV and Streaming

In France, there are different options available to fans wishing to follow Les Bleus throughout the competition: TF1 and beIN Sports. TF1 have secured exclusive free-to-air rights for the 2022 FIFA World Cup in France, and as part of the deal, will show 28 out of the 64 games live on its platforms, including online and on TV. All of Les Bleus' matches will be shown on TF1. The network also has gained rights to cover several of the key knockout games, including five from the round of 16, three from the quarter-finals, both semi-finals, the match for third, and of course, the much-anticipated final. TF1's World Cup content package includes extensive match highlights, pre- and post-match programming, and more. All the action is expected to be streamed live online on MYTF1.

BeIN Sports holds French multi-platform rights to the 2022 World Cup. The pay-TV broadcaster has all 64 matches live on its networks, 36 of which are available exclusively. The other 28 matches are shared with free-to-air broadcaster TF1. BeIN Sports have reportedly prepared for 230 hours of live World Cup action from Qatar, including magazine shows and match replays. All World Cup matches have also been scheduled for live streams on subscription streaming service beIN Sports Connect.

About France in FIFA World Cup history

To date, France have qualified for 16 World Cups and will be making their seventh consecutive appearance at the prestigious quadrennial in Qatar. Les Bleus have won the title twice, and having clinched their second trophy in 2018, will come into this contest as the reigning champions. France historically have performed well at World Cups, with a total of six top four finishes to date, but have had their fair share of troubles as they crashed out in the group stages at the 2002 and 2010 editions. That being said, Les Bleus are arguably one of the heavy favorites to win the title in Qatar, and should they do so, they will become just one of three sides to have successfully won back to back titles.

Who is France's coach for the 2022 FIFA World Cup?

Having guided France to victory at the 2018 FIFA World Cup, 54-year-old Didier Deschamps will look to become the first manager to win back to back World Cup titles. In winning it in 2018, Deschamps (who was part of France's 1998 World Cup winning squad) became only the third person in history to clinch a World Cup as a player and as a manager, after Brazil's Mario Zagallo (won as player in 1958 and 1962, as manager in 1970, and as assistant manager in 1994) and Germany's Franz Beckenbauer (won as player in 1974 and as manager in 1990).

Deschamps is just one of three men to have won the World Cup as a player and as a manager

After experiencing disappointment during EURO 2020, during which France were surprisingly beaten on penalties by Switzerland in the round of 16, Deschamps will be hoping to silence his critics and make history in the process.

France's expectations ahead of the 2022 FIFA World Cup

Simply, put, France are expected to go far in this tournament. Even if they can not become the first side since Brazil defended their crown (in 1958 and 1962), Les Bleus are at least expected to make it to the semi-finals in Qatar with the caliber of players they have at their disposal. Of course, with reigning champions having endured the winners' curse, France will be really hoping to avoid the same humiliating fates suffered by Spain (won it in 2010, dumped out in 2014) and Germany (won it in 2014, dumped out in 2018) and ensure they hit the ground running starting from their group stage opener against Australia.

France: Key players for the 2022 FIFA World Cup

Fresh off winning the Ballon d'Or, Karim Benzema will now turn his attention towards adding another major team trophy - and perhaps a personal one - to his growing collection. The Real Madrid star was not part of the France squad that won the World Cup four years ago, but now having returned from the international wilderness, the 34-year-old, who is the second oldest ever player to win the Ballon d'Or, will be eager to play his part as France aim to become the first team in the 21st century to win back to back World Cup titles.

Meanwhile, Kylian Mbappe, who scored four goals during France's World Cup winning campaign - including one as Les Bleus earned a well-deserved 4-2 win over surprise finalists Croatia - will be also keen on playing a starring role for Deschamps's squad as France aim to successfully navigate their way to the final. Despite being barely 24, Mbappe has netted a whopping 28 goals in just 59 appearances for the senior side since bursting onto the scene back in 2017, and one will expect him to add more strikes to that rapidly growing tally this year in Qatar.

Finally, while strikers arguably do receive much of the attention and the plaudits, they alone can not win games for a side. Key to France's success will also be also the midfield, the defense, and the man in between the posts. At the moment, both Mike Maignan and Hugo Lloris are expected to be two of the shot-stoppers Deschamps will select, provided both the AC Milan and Tottenham players will win their respective races to recover in time for the 2022 FIFA World cup. Unfortunately, one of their key players from 2018 - Chelsea ace N'Golo Kante - will not be on the plane to Qatar, as the former Leicester man has struggled with injuries lately and will be out for the long-haul due to hamstring surgery.

France's roster for the 2022 FIFA World Cup

Here's France's 26-man squad for the 2022 FIFA World Cup.

Goalkeepers: Hugo Lloris (Tottenham), Alphonse Areola (West Ham), Steve Mandanda (Rennes)

Defenders: Raphael Varane (Manchester United), Theo Hernandez (AC Milan), Lucas Hernandez (Bayern Munich), Jules Kounde (Barcelona), Benjamin Pavard (Bayern Munich), Ferland Mendy (Real Madrid), Dayot Upamecano (Bayern Munich), Ibrahima Konate (Liverpool), Benoit Badiashile (Monaco), William Saliba (Arsenal)

Midfielders: Eduardo Camavinga (Real Madrid), Aurelien Tchouameni (Real Madrid), Matteo Guendouzi (Marseille), Jordan Veretout (Marseille), Youssouf Fofana (Monaco), Adrien Rabiot (Juventus)

Forwards: Kylian Mbappe (PSG), Karim Benzema (Real Madrid), Olivier Giroud (AC Milan), Antoine Griezmann (Atletico Madrid), Christopher Nkunku (RB Leipzig), Kingsley Coman (Bayern Munich), Ousmane Dembele (Barcelona)

France's 2022 FIFA World Cup schedule

France will be playing alongside Denmark, Australia, and Tunisia in Group D at the 2022 FIFA World Cup. Les Bleus' World Cup title defense will begin on November 22nd, when they face Australia, followed by a crunch clash against Denmark - the same team who beat them 2-0 in a Nations League match recently - on November 26th. Deschamps's squad will then look to wrap up their group stage campaign against Tunisia, by which point, should everything go according to plan, France will then be booking their spot in the knockout rounds.