France's Football Team Seals Undefeated Qualification for 2026 World Cup

France's national football team, Les Bleus, completed their 2026 World Cup qualification campaign with a commanding 3-1 victory over Azerbaijan on November 17, 2025. This win secured their spot in the upcoming tournament, solidifying an unbeaten qualifying run. The match, which held no critical stakes for France given their earlier qualification, saw debutant goalkeeper Lucas Chevalier taking part alongside standout performances from goal scorers Jean-Philippe Mateta and Maghnes Akliouche. Additionally, an own goal by the Azerbaijani goalkeeper contributed to France's dominant display.

Despite Kylian Mbappé missing the fixture due to an ankle injury, the French team showcased depth and resilience to close out qualifiers on a strong note. With this result, France joins other qualified nations such as Portugal, while Italy faces the challenge of securing a place via the playoffs.

This victory highlights the consistency and strength of Les Bleus as they look ahead to the World Cup in 2026. Meanwhile, French sports fans have additional reasons to celebrate, with the national rugby team winning against Fiji and tennis star Jannik Sinner capturing the Masters ATP title. Winter sports have also seen notable French achievements, including a new world speed skating record by Timothy Loubineaud.

In the words of one match report, despite it being a "match without stakes," France's performance demonstrated their quality and preparedness. The team’s unbeaten qualification run underlines their status as one of the top contenders for international football's most prestigious tournament.