2026 World Cup qualifying confirmed teams

France will qualify for the 2026 World Cup finals if France beats Ukraine in both teams’ penultimate Group D match at the Parc des Princes on Thursday.

The team qualified for the 2022 finals dropped points for the first time in the qualifiers in a 2-2 draw in Iceland last October 13, which put it three points ahead of Ukraine, which beat Azerbaijan 2-1 in Poland on the same day.

A draw will guarantee France its place in the finals between the United States, Canada and Mexico due to its five-goal advantage over Ukraine.

101GreatGoals.com has full team news from France vs Ukraine 2026 World Cup qualifiers.

Recommended offer

bet £10 It happens £30 In free bets

#AD 18+ minimum deposit. Free bets are paid as bet credits and are available for use when qualifying bets are settled. Minimum odds, stakes and payment method exclusions apply. Returns exclude Bet Credits share. Time limits, terms and conditions apply to GambleAware.org. Terms and conditions apply.

France’s starting lineup against Ukraine

France will miss Paris Saint-Germain strikers Ousmane Dembélé and Desire Du, Tottenham striker Randall Kolo Moani, Milan midfielder Adrien Rabiot, and his Real Madrid counterpart Aurelien Chouamini.

Al-Ittihad midfielder N’Golo Kante makes his first international appearance since November 2024, and Manchester City’s Ryan Chergui starts.

France in the starting lineup: Mike Maignane, Jules Kounde, William Saliba, Dayot Upamecano, Lucas Digne, Michael Olise, N’Golo Kante, Ryan Cherke, Manu Kone, Bradley Barkula, Kylian Mbappe.

France alternatives: Bryce Samba, Malou Gusteau, Jevren Thuram, Christopher Nkunku, Hugo Ekteke, Magnes Aklioch, Ibrahima Konate, Warren Zaire Emery, Jean-Philippe Mateta, Lucas Hernandez, Theo Hernandez, Lucas Chevalier.

Ukraine’s starting lineup against France

Roma striker Artem Dovpik is absent from the Ukraine national team due to a thigh injury, while Dynamo Kiev midfielder Volodymyr Prajko is absent due to muscle pain.

Ukraine in the starting lineup: Anatoly Trubin, Oleksandr Karavaev, Ilya Zabarny, Oleksandr Svatuk, Taras Mikhaevko, Bohdan Mikhailichenko, Oleh Osheretko, Yehor Yarmolyuk, Yehor Nazarina, Oleksiy Hutsuliak, Roman Yaremchuk

Ukraine Alternatives: Yevgeny Volynets, Jochim Konoplya, Valery Bondar, Ivan Kalyuzhny, Vladislav Vanat, Mykola Shaparenko, Viktor Tsygankov, Vitaly Mikulenko, Hiorhi Sudakov, Nazar Voloshin, Oleksandr Zubkov, Dmytro Reznik.

How to watch the France-Ukraine match

The match will kick off on Thursday at 19:45 GMT (14:45 ET / 11:45 PT), with live coverage in the UK on Amazon Prime PPV, which charges £2.49 a game.

September 5: Ukraine 0-2 France

September 9: France 2-1 Iceland

October 10: France 3-0 Azerbaijan

October 13: Iceland 2-2 France

November 13: France vs Ukraine

November 16: Azerbaijan vs France

France’s qualifiers for the 2026 World Cup

The top team from each of the 12 European qualifying groups automatically qualifies for the finals, which will be expanded to 48 teams.

The 12 runners-up in each group will join four UN League teams in the qualifiers, which will be drawn from the pots based on the teams’ records during the campaign. The matches will include semi-finals and a single-match final.

The draw for the World Cup finals will take place in December 2025. The tournament will be held from June 11 to July 19, 2026.