France has secured its place in the 2026 FIFA World Cup, joining England as only the second European nation to qualify for the tournament. Les Bleus clinched their spot with a dominant 4-0 victory over Ukraine on Thursday at the Parc des Princes in Paris.
The match saw a dominant second-half performance from the French side, with goals from Kylian Mbappé (2), Michael Olise, and Hugo Ekitike sealing the victory. Mbappé's two goals were particularly significant, with his second marking the 400th goal of his career for both club and country. Ekitike's goal was his first for the national team.
France now holds an unassailable lead in Group D with 13 points, leaving Ukraine and Iceland to compete for the second spot. This will be France's eighth consecutive World Cup appearance and 17th overall. France has won the World Cup twice, in 1998 and 2018.
The victory over Ukraine was comprehensive, with France controlling the game and showcasing their attacking prowess. While the first half was relatively quiet, the second half saw France unleash their full potential, overwhelming Ukraine's defense. Mbappé's penalty in the 55th minute opened the scoring, followed by goals from Olise and Ekitike.
With their place at the 2026 World Cup secured, France can now focus on preparing for the tournament, which will be co-hosted by Canada, the United States, and Mexico. As runners-up in the 2022 World Cup, France is determined to reclaim the title they lost to Argentina and will be aiming to make a strong statement in 2026.
The team boasts a wealth of talent, including stars like Kylian Mbappé, Ousmane Dembélé, Aurélien Tchouaméni, and Michael Olise. France's qualification campaign has been near-flawless, with four wins and one draw in their group matches.
Meanwhile, in other World Cup qualifying news, Cristiano Ronaldo was sent off in Portugal's 2-0 defeat to Ireland, potentially resulting in a ban that could cause him to miss the first match of the World Cup tournament. Erling Haaland scored twice as Norway moved closer to qualifying for the World Cup for the first time since 1998.
