- France 4-0 Ukraine : Mbappé 55’, 83’, Olise 76’, Ekitike 88’
Without ever truly being under threat during these qualifiers, France has officially punched its ticket to the 2026 World Cup at home. Once again, Kylian Mbappé led the way, carrying a French side that moved at two very different speeds throughout the evening.
It was an emotionally charged match. Ten years after the Paris attacks, France–Ukraine was played on November 13, echoing the symbolic France–Germany encounter held in the middle of the 2015 tragedy. At the Parc des Princes, a powerful rendition of La Marseillaise and a moving minute of silence honoring the 132 victims set the tone before football resumed.
Set up in a 4-2-3-1 with Cherki and Olise tasked with sparking the attack, France struggled for long stretches against a Ukrainian side camped deep in its own half. Aside from flashes from Barcola and the relentless ball-winning of the Kanté–Koné duo, there was little to excite the Parisian crowd in the first 45 minutes.
The second half told a different story. After a major scare early on, Olise broke forward on the counter and was stepped on inside the box. The referee pointed to the spot, offering France the breakthrough it desperately needed. Mbappé converted, then added another. Olise and Ekitike joined the scoresheet to seal the night.
France is through. The World Cup awaits — and the French will be among the top seeds in the draw.