World Cup 2026: Surprise with French Team's 'Lucky Charm'

According to a reporter from the Vietnam News Agency in France, the information revealed by the weekly newspaper Le Canard Enchaîné quickly caught the attention of the French public, as the blue-shirted team aims for its third world championship title in history.

According to the source, during a visit to the Clairefontaine National Training Center on June 2 alongside President Emmanuel Macron, Ms. Ferrari prepared a surprise for the players and the coaching staff of coach Didier Deschamps.

During lunch with the entire team, Ms. Ferrari presented two stone stars and explained the meaning of the gift. One star was crafted from blue jasper quartz, a stone she said provides energy and helps the owner achieve set goals. The other star was made from crystal quartz, which many believe can reduce stress and anxiety, boost confidence, and even help relieve muscle pain.

According to Le Canard Enchaîné, Ms. Ferrari recounted that during her first election campaign over 20 years ago, a supporter gave her a lucky stone. Since then, she has always kept it with her as a memento associated with belief and good fortune.

Sources close to the Sports Minister confirmed that this was merely 'a symbolic gift' to convey best wishes to the team before entering the biggest tournament on earth. Ms. Ferrari even encouraged players to carry these stones in their match socks when on the field.

However, according to the famous French satirical weekly, Ms. Ferrari's spiritually-tinged speech surprised many present. The newspaper reported that both President Emmanuel Macron and the French team players were taken aback by this unusual initiative.

The incident quickly became a topic of discussion on French social media. Some viewed it as a friendly and harmless gesture to boost the team's morale. Meanwhile, others expressed skepticism about a government official publicly citing the supposed 'therapeutic' benefits of feng shui stones, which lack widely accepted scientific basis.

Nevertheless, what French fans care about most is the national team's form. After losing to Argentina in the 2022 World Cup final in Qatar and being eliminated in the semi-finals of EURO 2024, Didier Deschamps' side faces huge pressure to regain its status as one of the world's top football powers.

At the 2026 World Cup, the French team is still considered one of the top contenders for the title thanks to their balanced and high-quality squad across all three lines. The current squad still includes key players from the 2018 World Cup winning team such as Kylian Mbappé, Ousmane Dembélé, Theo Hernandez, and Aurélien Tchouaméni, along with many young talents emerging at top European clubs.

Under coach Deschamps, the French team has maintained rare stability. The 57-year-old manager has been in charge since 2012, winning the 2018 World Cup, finishing runner-up at the 2022 World Cup, and reaching the final stages of several major tournaments. This track record makes him one of the most successful coaches in French football history.

The 2026 World Cup also holds special meaning for French football, as it may be the last World Cup for some players of the current golden generation. A title would allow 'Les Bleus' to match Italy's record of three championships, trailing only Brazil, which holds the record with five world titles.