Victor Wembanyama has been named the captain of Team France ahead of FIBA World Cup European Qualifiers.
His appointment comes just a few weeks after he hosted some of his Spurs teammates to train and bond in France.
Capitaine 🫡🇫🇷
Victor Wembanyama sera le capitaine de l’Équipe de France pour la quatrième fenêtre de qualification à la Coupe du Monde 2027.#TeamFranceBasket | #PassionnémentBleu | #FIBAWC pic.twitter.com/NEXWauXBhf
— Équipes de France de Basket (@FRABasketball) August 19, 2026
He will lead France in some friendly matches against Serbia, capatined by three-time NBA MVP Nikola Jokic, on Thursday and Sunday before Team France faces Slovenia on Aug. 27 in its first participation in the European qualifiers.
Being captain is first and foremost about setting an example, being a leader, through performance on the court, knowing the systems, the opponents and bringing calm,” Wembanyama said, according to FIBA.
🗣️ Revivez l’intronisation de Victor Wembanyama en tant que nouveau capitaine des Bleus et ses premiers mots pour le groupe.#TeamFranceBasket | #PassionnémentBleu | #FIBAWC pic.twitter.com/OlV4ffRzPa
— Équipes de France de Basket (@FRABasketball) August 19, 2026
“This window is a good opportunity to experience this new chapter with the coaching staff as a captain. It’s probably earlier than I expected, and likely earlier than everyone else expected. But it’s not rushed either. I’m honored and excited. I wasn’t expecting it until [French coach Frédéric Fauthoux] told me, but it’s a great honor.”
Rudy Gobert, the French teammate and center of the Minnesota Timberwolves, captained the squad, which includes players such as Evan Fournier and Maxime Raynaud, in qualifying windows earlier this summer.
This marks the first appearance of Wembanyama with Team France since the 2024 Paris Olympics, where Les Bleus won silver after losing to Team USA in the gold-medal match, per ESPN.
In the 2024 Olympics, Wembanyama averaged 15.8 points, 9.7 rebounds, and 3.3 assists in 179 minutes of playing time and now takes over captaincy of Team France at a time when the team is poised to strongly contest for gold medals in the upcoming 2027 World Cup next summer in Qatar and the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.
Elevated Stature
It is clear that Wembanyama has improved himself significantly from the time he played with Team France previously. Winning his first Defensive Player of the Year award by unanimous votes in the 2024 NBA season, Wembanyama finished third in MVP voting and averaged career highs in scoring 25 points, grabbing 11.5 rebounds, and swatting away 3.1 shots in leading the Spurs to the NBA Finals.
It was the longest season in Wembanyama’s three-year NBA career, considering San Antonio played until June. However, the two-time NBA All-Star enjoys wearing the jersey of his home country.
