Karim Benzema Reopens Door to France Return Ahead of 2026 World Cup Campaign

Karim Benzema sparks controversy by confirming he would return to the French national team for the 2026 World Cup if called upon by Didier Deschamps.

By: AXL Media

Published: Apr 25, 2026, 9:07 AM EDT

Source: Information for this report was sourced from YSScores

The Reopening of a Complex International Chapter

The landscape of French international football faces a potential tectonic shift following Karim Benzema’s latest comments regarding his future with Les Bleus. In a surprising development that has reignited a nationwide debate, the veteran forward confirmed that he remains open to representing his country at the 2026 World Cup. Speaking to L'Équipe, Benzema was direct about his ambitions, stating that "if they call me, I will come back." This declaration marks a significant pivot from his retirement announcement in December 2022, which many believed had definitively ended his turbulent relationship with the national setup following a last-minute injury that sidelined him from the Qatar World Cup.

Maintaining Elite Physicality in the Saudi Pro League

Benzema's case for a return is bolstered by his sustained individual brilliance since joining Al-Hilal in February 2026. Under the guidance of manager Simone Inzaghi, the Frenchman has recorded 16 goals and two assists in 20 league appearances during the 2025/26 campaign. His clinical form was most recently showcased in a dominant 6-0 victory over Al Kholood, where he secured a hat-trick and provided an assist. Benzema emphasized that his primary focus remains on maintaining his "physical and technical readiness" at the Kingdom Arena, ensuring that should a vacant spot emerge in the French frontline, his performance data remains impossible for the national coaching staff to ignore.

Navigating the Friction with Didier Deschamps

Despite the player’s willingness to return, the primary hurdle remains his fractured relationship with head coach Didier Deschamps. The tension peaked during the 2022 World Cup when Deschamps suggested the striker had left the training camp prematurely, a claim Benzema’s camp has consistently contested. While the manager has recently focused on a new generation of talent led by Kylian Mbappé and Marcus Thuram, the veteran striker’s current output offers a compelling alternative. Benzema has chosen not to "revisit the past," describing old wounds as closed, yet his insistence that "no real footballer would turn down a World Cup" places the responsibility for a reunion firmly back with the French Football Federation.