The Dragons contingent includes forward Nabil Djalout, who has made just one Super League appearance, while Australian full-back Mark Kheirallah, who qualifies on residency, is one of three representatives from Championship club Toulouse.
There is also a place for Hull's new signing Hakim Miloudi, who spent the latter end of the 2017 season with Doncaster after moving from Carcassonne.
St Helens half-back Theo Fages will captain the team in the absence of Catalans prop Remi Casty, who is sidelined with a broken hand.
France open their campaign against Lebanon in Canberra on October 29 and play Australia in their second group A match a week later before taking on England in Perth on November 12.
They are 250/1 outsiders with Sky Bet to win the tournament, in a market headed by joint hosts Australia (4/11) and New Zealand who are 4/1 with England 13/2.
Squad: J Bousquet, T Margalet, B Garcia, J Baitieri, L Albert, F Yaha, N Djalout, R Navarrete (all Catalans Dragons), B Ader, C Boyer, M Kheirallah (all Toulouse), W Barthau, J Boudebza (both London Broncos), O Arnaud, G Bonnet (both Avignon), D Cardace (Lezignan), T Fages (St Helens, capt), M Herold, M Rouch (both Limoux), B Jullien (Warrington), A Maria, E Pelissier (both Leigh), H Miloudi (Hull), G Springer (Castleford).
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