France Secures 2026 World Cup Spot Amid Player Absences

In contemporary football, moments of celebration are fleeting.

On Thursday night, France secured its place in the 2026 World Cup by defeating Ukraine 4-0. Just twelve hours later, head coach Didier Deschamps and his squad were en route to Azerbaijan for their upcoming match on Sunday afternoon. However, three players from the 26-man roster were notably absent from the trip: Manu Koné is suspended and returned early to AS Roma, while Eduardo Camavinga and Kylian Mbappé both departed to their clubs—Camavinga with a minor injury and Mbappé seeking a scan for an injured ankle.

Kylian Mbappé was once again the standout performer in the victory, contributing two goals and one assist. This marked the sixth consecutive international appearance in which he scored, an unprecedented achievement in French football history, previously matched only by Jean-Pierre Papin who scored in seven straight games between September 1990 and October 1991. Mbappé now has the opportunity to equal or surpass this record during the March international break when France is expected to face Brazil, as well as possibly Mexico, the United States, or Croatia.

Nevertheless, another record looms larger for Mbappé. With his 54th and 55th goals for France, he is only two behind Olivier Giroud, the current all-time leading scorer for Les Bleus. It has long been anticipated that Mbappé would eventually break this record. Remarkably, when combining his 35 assists with his 55 goals, he boasts a total of 90 goal involvements in just 94 appearances.

Thursday was a significant milestone for France, not only for securing World Cup qualification but also for a country that consistently competes for the trophy. France has reached the final in four of the last seven World Cups, an impressive statistic.

As the 2018 champions and 2022 finalists prepare for Deschamps’ fourth and final World Cup as manager, there is speculation that Zinedine Zidane will succeed him. For now, it is known that Deschamps will step down after the tournament next summer.

Deschamps’ track record in World Cup competitions is remarkable: France reached the quarterfinals in 2014, won in 2018, and suffered a heartbreaking penalty shootout defeat in the 2022 final against Lionel Messi and Argentina, during which Mbappé scored a hat trick in a match widely regarded as one of the greatest in World Cup history.

The forthcoming tournament in 2026 will be Deschamps’ last opportunity, and he aspires to leave on a high note. Fortunately, he possesses an exceptionally talented squad at his disposal. Mbappé himself remarked last month, “This is the most talented French team I have ever seen. The strongest, not yet, but the one with the most potential, yes. It is infinite. In every position, our players play for the best clubs in the world. But as a team, we are not yet as strong as the 2018 team or the 2022 team.”

He added, “Does this current team have the potential to be the best team? 100%. Will it be? It is down to us to make it happen. We must maintain ambition with players of this quality,” he stated in an interview with L’Equipe Magazine.

Amidst this potential, France and Deschamps also benefit from a wealth of experience, both in terms of player age and international caps. Half of the squad called up this November participated in the 2022 final. There are numerous compelling attacking options, including Mbappé, Ousmane Dembélé, Michael Olise, Désiré Doué, Rayan Cherki, Bradley Barcola, and Maghnes Akliouche, along with Christopher Nkunku, Jean-Philippe Mateta, Marcus Thuram, and Hugo Ekitike.

Ekitike scored his first goal for France in just his fifth appearance on Thursday, collaborating with his captain Mbappé in a well-executed one-two play. Deschamps appreciates the Liverpool forward for his versatility, energy, and unique combination of size and technical skill. While not all of these players can be taken to the World Cup, Ekitike, along with Akliouche, made significant impressions on Thursday.

Defensively, the team boasts remarkable solidity, particularly at center-back, complemented by a youthful and energetic squad eager to establish their identities on the international stage.

At the forefront is Mbappé, arguably the best center forward in French football history—captain, No. 10, and the only player to score four goals in World Cup finals. Currently, he is in outstanding form, contributing 24 goals and four assists across just 20 matches for club and country this season.

On Thursday, he achieved his 400th career goal in just 537 games, an impressive milestone achieved at the young age of 26 years and 328 days, making him the youngest to reach this mark—surpassing Messi and Ronaldo, among others.

However, Mbappé is not one to rest on his achievements. He persistently seeks more—more goals, more titles. “Four hundred goals? It is great, but people are not impressed with it,” he stated to reporters on Thursday night. “When you have one guy with 950 [Ronaldo] and one with 900 [Messi], I need 400 more if I want to be part of that conversation that will shock people.

“Cristiano Ronaldo’s 1,000 goals? It’s unreal. But we will strive for the unreal. I must try; I only have one career!”