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Despite not being selected for the French squad at the 2026 World Cup, Real Madrid midfielder Eduardo Camavinga is still U.S.-bound, completing a one-week course at Harvard University.
The 23-year-old midfielder had previously come on as a substitute and played 49 minutes in the 2022 World Cup final. However, after an underwhelming 2025-2026 season both individually and collectively at Real Madrid, Camavinga was left out of the 26-man French squad for the world's biggest football event by coach Didier Deschamps.
While his fellow "Les Bleus" were training at their camp in Massachusetts, U.S., Camavinga studied at Harvard Business School, just about 8 km away.
On June 7, the 2002-born star shared photos of himself at the prestigious institution, including one where he was holding a certificate, on Instagram.
The post was well received by many colleagues, including his Real Madrid teammate Vinicius, who commented with clapping emojis.
"A few days of learning, listening and growing," Camavinga wrote. "Grateful for the experience at Harvard Business School."
The midfielder has completed a short course in sports and recreation organized by the renowned Boston-based university.
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Eduardo Camavinga shared photos of him earning a certificate at Harvard Business School in Boston, Massachusetts, U.S., on June 7, 2026. Photos by Instagram/Eduardo Celmi Camavinga |
Since making his national team debut under Deschamps in 2020, Camavinga has made 29 appearances for France. In his most recent appearance, he came off the bench in a 2-0 friendly win over Colombia in March this year.
In a press conference following the announcement of the official squad for the 2026 World Cup, Deschamps, who had won the World Cup both as a player and a coach, explained his decision to leave out Camavinga.
"The primary reason lies in his form this season," said Deschamps. "In addition, there have been a few injuries, and especially the fierce competition in midfield. I have never questioned Camavinga's potential or class. But he has every right to be angry with me, and I completely understand."
Deschamps prioritizes strengthening the defense, calling up nine defenders, including Maxence Lacroix, who was scheduled to make his debut in March 2026 against Brazil due to William Saliba's injury. This decision inadvertently reduced the number of midfield options, leading to the exclusion of both Camavinga and Corentin Tolisso.
Deschamps now has at his disposal only five midfielders, whom he describes as "five versatile options who can play well on both the left and right flanks."
After winning the Champions League twice with Real Madrid, Camavinga has just had his second consecutive trophy-less season with the Spanish giants. In contrast, his two club teammates, Kylian Mbappe and Aurelien Tchouameni, will still represent France at the 2026 World Cup, where they will play their opening match against Senegal on June 17.
