Overview

• Speaking in Poland before France’s World Cup qualifier, Kylian Mbappé said his view has shifted from “we play too much” to a need for more rest between matches.
• Mbappé logged 59 games for Real Madrid last season plus six for France, scoring 44 goals, with competitive action stretching from August 14 to July 9 and a rapid return on August 19.
• He cited the expanded Club World Cup for squeezing the offseason, noting that some teams were in preseason friendlies while Real Madrid were still in the tournament’s latter stages.
• France open 2026 qualifying against Ukraine in Poland on Friday before hosting Iceland on Tuesday, with Azerbaijan also in Group D and the group winner advancing directly.
• He warned that, if France qualify, meaningful time off may not arrive until mid-July 2026 and argued that better recovery windows would lift match quality for everyone.