Manu Koné could start for France against Iraq in Philadelphia on Monday at 23:00. The 25-year-old is now in position to move into the XI after climbing the pecking order since his debut in September 2024.
Didier Deschamps and Manu Koné
Didier Deschamps held a brief one-to-one with Koné on Thursday and praised his training levels, while also urging him not to ease off. That is the clearest sign yet that the midfielder is being considered for a bigger role in the World Cup clash.
Koné’s route to this point has been stop-start but upward. He became a regular through autumn qualifying after making four starts in six matches between September and November, then had his March buildup disrupted by a right thigh injury that ruled him out of the United States warm-up tour.
Monaco for extra work
Before linking up with France, Koné spent five days in Monaco for extra physical work. The return to the squad after that spell came on 4 June, when he played against Côte d’Ivoire in Nantes in a 1-2 defeat.
That background explains why the possible start is more than a routine lineup call. Koné had been expected to reach the World Cup as a starter, and his profile fits a midfield role that asks for resistance under pressure and a clean first pass forward. He can break a press with his body, drive past challenges and stay out of dangerous areas, traits that have helped him rise quickly in France’s selection order.
There is still one wrinkle. L'Équipe says Koné would deputise for Aurélien Tchouaméni, who is not injured. That leaves France with a choice between keeping the established midfielder in place or using Koné to add a more vertical edge against Iraq in Philadelphia.
If Koné starts, it would be the next step in a rise that began with his debut in September 2024 and moved through autumn, injury recovery and extra work in Monaco. If he does not, the same signs still point to a player who has forced himself into the conversation for the rest of the World Cup.
