Oudéa-Castéra made it clear it was her job to represent France at such competitions, but echoed the words of head coach Didier Deschamps that players could make statements regarding Qatar's human rights and migrant workers abuse.

"The role of a Minister of Sports is to be alongside the team," she said to France Info.

"I hope to go to Qatar. 

"If we are in the quarter-finals, it is an important milestone.

"Didier Deschamps pronounced the important word, that of 'freedom'. 

"I trust them. 

"What is important is that we rebalance, that we talk more about the athlete."

Previously Deschamps said he would not "gag the players", adding "each individual will have their freedom of expression".

France has announced its national team for the FIFA World Cup, notably missing Paul Pogba, N'Golo Kante, Anthony Martial and Ferland Mendy.

However, it sees the return of Karim Benzema, who missed Euro 2016 and the 2018 FIFA World Cup due to his involvement in a blackmail sex-tape case featuring his national team-mate Mathieu Valbuena.

He was later given a one-year suspended prison sentence and dropped an appeal eventually due to being "exhausted" by the process.