France Officially Qualifies for 2026 World Cup After Dominant Win Over Ukraine

The French national team officially secured their spot in the 2026 FIFA World Cup finals after achieving a resounding 4-0 victory over visiting Ukraine on Thursday evening. This crucial match was part of the penultimate round of the European qualifiers for the tournament.

Kylian Mbappé delivered a standout performance, opening the scoring from a penalty in the 55th minute. He then added his second goal, and France's third, in the 83rd minute, bringing his tally for the national team to 55 goals. This places him very close to becoming the all-time leading scorer for Les Bleus, needing just two more goals to surpass Olivier Giroud.

Michael Olise and Hugo Ekitike scored the second and fourth goals, respectively, completing the French team's four-goal haul.

With this victory, France increased their points total to 13, solidifying their position at the top of Group D. They now hold a six-point lead over their closest rivals, Iceland and Ukraine, who will compete for a playoff spot in the final round. This qualification ensures Les Bleus' presence at the 2026 World Cup in America, reaffirming France's continued excellence on the global stage.