Former France manager Raymond Domenech has cast serious doubt over Rayan Cherki’s 2026 FIFA World Cup hopes, despite the midfielder’s impressive rise for both club and country.
The 22-year-old, who left Lyon for Manchester City last summer, has rapidly grown into one of Pep Guardiola’s most eye-catching tcreative outlets.
Yet Domenech insists the competition for attacking places in Didier Deschamps’ squad leaves Cherki with little room to break through.
Cherki’s performances in recent seasons have shown a steady and increasingly convincing upward curve.
After emerging as one of Lyon’s brightest academy products, his move to the Premier League has accelerated his development even further.
At City, he has delivered moments of match-winning influence despite battling early fitness setbacks.
Four goals and four assists in just 13 appearances underline how quickly he has adapted to Guardiola’s demanding style, which often challenges newly signed creative players.
For France, Cherki made a statement in June when he delivered a goal and an assist in a sparkling 30-minute debut against Spain — a performance that offered both the national team and Manchester City supporters a preview of his considerable potential at senior international level.
He followed that up with only his second start for Les Bleus in Thursday’s 4-0 victory over Ukraine, marking an important step after missing two consecutive international windows due to injury.
Still, while his recent exploits have generated praise from both Guardiola and Deschamps, Domenech is unconvinced that the Rayan Cherki’s 2026 FIFA World Cup ambition is secured and will get a place on the plane to North America next year.
“(Maghnes) Akliouche, (Michael) Olise and (Christopher) Nkunku are his direct competition – he has no chance,” Domenech said during an appearance on L’Équipe de Greg, in comments reported by Get Football News France.
“Everything depends on what he does at Manchester City – if they go far, if he plays a few games, comes on at the end of some games, a little 15 minutes here and there.”
His assessment stands in stark contrast to Cherki’s growing influence in Guardiola’s squad, where he has emerged as one of City’s most dynamic midfield options this season.
City impact growing despite setbacks
Cherki’s early weeks in England were disrupted by a persistent thigh issue, forcing Guardiola to stagger his minutes and reintegrate him gradually.
But since regaining full fitness, the Frenchman has become a decisive figure in key moments, often delivering clinical contributions from the bench.
The most recent example came in the Champions League, where Cherki added City’s fourth goal in a commanding victory over Borussia Dortmund at the Etihad Stadium.
His crisp finish complemented Phil Foden’s brace and Erling Haaland’s strike, capping a performance that showcased City’s attacking depth and Cherki’s ability to influence high-stakes matches.
Before that European display, he had delivered notable cameos in both the Premier League and Carabao Cup.
He scored against Wolves on the opening day of the league season and followed it up with a dramatic 94th-minute winner against Swansea City in the Carabao Cup — further evidence of his instinct for producing decisive contributions in tight matches.
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Since his £34 million transfer from Lyon, expectations were high but cautious; adapting from Ligue 1 to the Premier League is rarely seamless.
Yet Cherki has not only handled the transition but exceeded many early projections.
His creativity, technical flair, and willingness to take on defenders have added a new dimension to Guardiola’s attacking rotations — even more impressive considering City’s crowded midfield options.
Despite Domenech’s scepticism, Rayan Cherki’s 2026 FIFA World Cup is growing, particularly with catalogue of influential performances suggests he is positioning himself as a genuine contender for France’s World Cup squad.
For now, the journey to the 2026 World Cup remains long, filled with variables that Domenech himself acknowledged. But one thing is clear: Rayan Cherki is giving himself every chance — even if former France managers believe otherwise.
