France Edges Closer to World Cup 2026 with Win Over Azerbaijan
France won against Azerbaijan in their World Cup 2026 qualifier at Parc des Princes, despite multiple injuries and squad rotations, reinforcing their leading position in Group D.
- • France leads Group D with six points after wins against Ukraine and Iceland.
- • Several key French players are injured, including Ballon d'Or winner Ousmane Dembélé.
- • Didier Deschamps rotated the squad, starting Khéphren Thuram and Hugo Ekitike for the first time.
- • Azerbaijan, ranked 122nd in FIFA, remains underdogs with no major tournament qualifications.
Key details
On October 10, 2025, France continued their World Cup 2026 qualification campaign with a critical match against Azerbaijan at the Parc des Princes. Leading Group D with six points after victories over Ukraine and Iceland, the French squad aimed to solidify their position and take another step toward securing their place in the tournament scheduled for June to July 2026 across the United States, Mexico, and Canada.
France took the field without several key players due to injuries, including Ballon d'Or winner Ousmane Dembélé, Désiré Doué, Bradley Barcola, Rayan Cherki, and Aurélien Tchouaméni. To compensate, coach Didier Deschamps called up Jean-Philippe Mateta for the first time since 2019. The coach also decided to rotate the squad, not wanting to take any risks with his internationals amid a congested schedule.
The starting lineup featured a 4-2-3-1 formation, with new starters Khéphren Thuram and Hugo Ekitike making their first appearances in the starting XI. Veteran talents like captain Kylian Mbappé, who led the team on the pitch, goalkeeper Mike Maignan, defenders Malo Gusto, William Saliba, Dayot Upamecano, and Theo Hernandez, and midfielders Adrien Rabiot and Thuram anchored the side.
Facing an Azerbaijani team ranked 122nd by FIFA—composed mainly of Qarabag FC players and without previous qualification to major tournaments—France appeared dominant but somewhat uninspired. Still, the match's outcome was favorable for Les Bleus, keeping them on track in their qualification push.
Azerbaijan's underdog status underscored the challenge France presented, and the match served as a crucial step in their group stage journey. The next qualifier for France is scheduled in Iceland, where Deschamps hinted further rotation would occur to manage player fitness.
In summary, France's blend of youth and experience, combined with strategic squad rotation, allowed them to maintain the top spot in their group as they pursue the World Cup 2026 berth.