Victor Wembanyama has officially been selected as captain of France’s senior national team ahead of the upcoming FIBA window.
After a summer that included chess, rugby and hosting several San Antonio Spurs teammates in Paris, the 22-year-old has turned his attention back to international basketball.
He recently joined the French squad in Orleans as preparations began for the 2027 FIBA World Cup Qualifiers.
Wembanyama spoke about the pride and responsibility that comes with representing France, particularly because international windows are short and every game can have major consequences.
Under head coach Frederic Fauthoux, Wembanyama sees the upcoming stretch as an opportunity to become more familiar with the coaching system and his new teammates while building toward the 2027 World Cup and 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.
He will also reunite with Paris 2024 Olympic silver medalists Evan Fournier, Rudy Gobert and Matthew Strazel.
Before returning to qualifying action, France will play two exhibition games against Nikola Jokic and Serbia, with meetings scheduled in Belgrade and Orleans.
France enters the next qualifying stage with a 5–1 record achieved without Wembanyama.
The new captain will now lead Les Bleus against Slovenia in Paris and Sweden in Stockholm before returning to the United States for the Spurs’ NBA preseason.
Victor Wembanyana named French national team captain#FIBAWC #StepItUphttps://t.co/obqc7TudBi
— Eurohoops (@Eurohoopsnet) August 19, 2026
