France have qualified for the 2026 World Cup, beating Ukraine on the penultimate matchday of Group D qualifiers. With a three-point lead over their opponents going into the game, Les Bleus secured their place in the 17th World Cup finals in their history thanks to 4-0 win.
Kylian Mbappe opened the scoring with a penalty, before Michael Olise, who had won it, doubled the lead. With ten minutes to go, Mbappe, who scored his 54th and 55th goals for Les Bleus tonight, completed his brace. At just 26 years of age, he has now reached the 400-goal mark and is just two goals away from Olivier Giroud’s record with the French national team. Hugo Ekitike, who made a convincing entrance, sealed the victory at the end of the match.
With 13 points and as they travel to Azerbaijan on Sunday to conclude their World Cup qualifying campaign, Didier Deschamps’ men are now assured of not being caught by Ukraine, who will for their part host Iceland.
A qualification that also ensures France, third in the FIFA rankings behind Spain and Argentina, a seeded status in the World Cup draw, which will take place on 5th December in Washington, United States.
