Mbappé to miss France’s World Cup qualifier vs. Iceland because of ankle injury
Original Publication Date: October 11, 2025 1:45AM
Publication Updated: October 11, 2025 7:52AM
PARIS (AP) — France captain Kylian Mbappé will miss his team’s World Cup qualifier against Iceland on Monday because of a right ankle injury, the French soccer federation said Saturday.
The Real Madrid star scored in France’s 3-0 victory over Azerbaijan on Friday but limped off the field in the 83rd minute. Just before the international break, he had hurt the same ankle while playing against Villarreal.
France confirmed that its star forward would not make the trip to Reykjavik, and that he would return to Real Madrid.
After Friday’s game, France coach Didier Deschamps had said the injury was not serious and that Mbappé just felt sharp pain after taking a blow to the same ankle.
France, runner-up at the 2022 World Cup, is off to a perfect start in the qualification process for the 2026 edition. It has won all three of its games in Group D.
Pavard called up
France defender Ibrahima Konaté was released from the squad on Saturday and replaced by Marseille’s Benjamin Pavard.
Konaté had been struggling with a minor thigh injury picked up while playing for Liverpool against Chelsea last weekend. He did not play against Azerbaijan.
Pavard joined Marseille from Inter Milan in the offseason.
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