The France national under-21 football team (), known in France as Les Espoirs (, The Hopes), is the national under-21 football team of France and is controlled by the French Football Federation. The team competes in the UEFA European Under-21 Championship, held every two years.

Following the realignment of UEFA's youth competitions in 1976, under-21 football teams in Europe were formed. The team is exclusively for football players who are age 21 or under at the start of the two-year campaign of the UEFA European Under-21 Championship, meaning a player can represent the national team until the age of 23.

France has won the Under-21 Championship once, in 1988. Notable players on the team that went on to play for the senior national team include Laurent Blanc, Eric Cantona, Franck Sauzée, and Jocelyn Angloma, among others. Blanc was named the tournament's Golden Player. The team's best finish since was in 2002 when the team finished runners-up to the Czech Republic in Switzerland.

The France under-21 team does not have a permanent home. The team plays in stadiums located all around France, particularly grounds of Ligue 2 clubs. Because of the smaller demand compared to the senior national team, smaller facilities are used. Recently, the under-21 team has established the Stade Auguste-Delaune II, home of Stade Reims, as a home residence having played numerous matches there over the past two seasons.

History Though, under-21 teams weren't formed until 1976, Les Espoirs, a youth national team in France, had existed since 1950 playing its first match on 22 May 1952 defeating England 7–1 at the Stade Jules Deschaseaux in Le Havre. The team's next match was two years later suffering a 3–1 defeat to Italy in Vicenza. For the rest of the decade, the youth team played seven more matches, which included a 1–1 draw with Hungary in Budapest and a 2–0 loss to England in Sunderland in 1959. In the 1960s, Espoirs continued to play matches against fellow national youth sides. However, on 18 December 1968, the team contested a match against Algeria senior team in Algiers recording an impressive 5–2 victory. Four days later, the team draw 1–1 with the under-23 team of Algeria in Oran. On 12 February 1969, the Espoirs played the Hungary senior team at the Stade Gerland in Lyon. The match ended in a 2–2 draw.

Team image Media coverage France's under-21 football friendlies and qualifying matches are broadcast by Direct 8.

Results and fixtures

Legend

2025

2026

Coaching staff Current coaching staff

Position Name Nationality Head coach Gérald Baticle Assistant coach Gaël Clichy Goalkeeping coach Jérémie Janot Doctor Marc Chasselat Physiotherapist Florian Simon

Players Current squad For the 2025–26 and 2026–27 seasons, including the 2027 UEFA European Under-21 Championship, players born on or after 1 January 2004 are eligible.

The following players were called up for 2027 UEFA European Under-21 Championship qualification matches against Iceland, Estonia, Luxembourg and Switzerland on 25 and 29 September and 3 and 6 October 2026; respectively.

Note: Names in italics denote players that have been capped by the senior team.

Caps and goals as of 30 March 2026, after the match against Iceland.

Recent call-ups The following players have also been called up to the France under-21 squad and remain eligible:

Notes Players in bold have played at senior level. CLU Player withdrew from the squad because of a club necessity. INJ Player withdrew from the squad due to an injury. PRE Preliminary squad SEN Player withdrew from the squad due to a call up to the senior team. WD Player withdrew from the squad due to personal reasons.

Previous squads

U-21 European Championship squads 2023 UEFA Under-21 Championship squad 2021 UEFA Under-21 Championship squad 2019 UEFA Under-21 Championship squad 2006 UEFA Under-21 Championship squad 2002 UEFA Under-21 Championship squad 1996 UEFA Under-21 Championship squad

Honours UEFA European Under-21 Championship Champions (1): 1988 Runners-up (1): 2002 Third place (1): 1996

Toulon Tournament Champions (12): 1977, 1984, 1985, 1987, 1988, 1989, 1997, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2015 Finalists (14): 1975, 1976, 1978, 1980, 1986, 1991, 1993, 1995, 1996, 1998, 2009, 2011, 2014, 2016

Competitive record UEFA U-23 Championship 1972: Did not qualify. Finished 4th of 4 in qualification group. 1974: Did not qualify. Finished 3rd of 3 in qualification group. 1976: Losing quarter-finalists.

UEFA European Under-21 Championship YearResultPldWD*LGFGA1978Did not qualify40134619804211321982Quarter-finals631298198463121191986823313131988Champions1265121131990Did not qualify63211171992832375 1994Fourth place141022248 1996Third place14842305 1998Did not qualify8431138 20008622196 2002Runners-up151230277 2004Did not qualify10811207 2006Semi-finals1410222410 2007Did not qualify421163 200910532177 20118431126 201310802237 2015108113111 201710622178 2019Semi-finals1411212811 2021Quarter-finals1411033713 20231411213910 2025Semi-finals138233214Total1 title2361454843446194 *Draws include knockout matches decided via penalty shoot-out. **Gold background colour indicates that the tournament was won. Red border colour indicates tournament was held on home soil.

See also Sport in France Football in France Women's football in France France national football team France women's national football team

Notes

References

External links

Official site UEFA.com U-21 site U-21 Championships archives