As the 2026 World Cup—co-hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico—kicks off, Ifop-Fiducial, on behalf of Sud Radio, surveyed the French public about their attitudes toward the tournament: their plans to watch the matches, their expectations for the French national team’s performance, and their concerns about the risk of violence on the sidelines of the event.
Growing Interest in the Tournament
More than one in two French people say they plan to follow the 2026 World Cup matches: 54%, an increase of 6 percentage points compared to the survey conducted in November 2022, on the eve of the World Cup in Qatar. However, this interest varies significantly by gender: 66% of men say they are interested in the competition, compared to 42% of women. Despite its growing popularity, soccer continues to be a sport followed primarily by a male audience.
Interest in the tournament is particularly high among 35- to 49-year-olds (63%). Unsurprisingly, interest is very high among soccer fans, 89% of whom say they want to watch the matches, compared to 30% of those who are not particularly interested in the sport.
High but Cautious Expectations for Les Bleus
The French are approaching the tournament with measured optimism. 14% believe the French national team will become world champions, and 20% think it will reach the final—a higher percentage than that recorded in November 2022. Conversely, 15% of French people believe the French national team will be eliminated in the group stage, a view that is more prevalent among those aged 50–64 (21%).
The French national team continues to enjoy strong public support
The French national team maintains a generally positive image: 60% of French people say they have a favorable view of Les Bleus, including 21% who feel “very” favorably toward them. This level is significantly higher among those interested in soccer (81%) and even reaches 89% among those who are very interested. Politically, support for the national team is particularly strong among Socialist Party supporters (78%), Renaissance supporters (78%), and Les Républicains supporters (80%), while it appears more limited among Éric Zemmour’s 2022 voters (42%).
A World Cup Under Public Scrutiny
Beyond sporting interest, the study highlights very strong security concerns. 81% of French people fear that violence comparable to that seen after PSG’s victory could recur during the 2026 World Cup, with 41% saying they “definitely” fear this. This concern is particularly strong among those aged 65 and older (90%) and residents of rural communities (87%).
This fear cuts across the political spectrum, but it is more pronounced on the right: 90% of LR supporters and 90% of Reconquête/RN supporters fear further outbreaks of violence. Thus, while the 2026 World Cup is shaping up to be an event followed by a majority of the French public, it is also taking place amid a climate of anxious anticipation, where sporting enthusiasm coexists with high expectations for public order.