France took another confident step toward qualification for the 2026 FIFA World Cup with a 3-0 victory over Azerbaijan in a Group D qualifier, and much of the credit went to Kylian Mbappé, who both scored and assisted in the win.
The match, played at the Parc des Princes, began in frustrating fashion for Les Bleus. France dominated possession — often exceeding 70 per cent — and peppered the Azerbaijan goal with shots, but struggled to open the scoring until late in the first half. It was Mbappé who broke the deadlock in stoppage time before halftime, weaving through defenders to slot a low finish past the goalkeeper.
After the break, France continued to press, yet the breakthrough for their second goal took time. In the 69th minute, Mbappé delivered a precise cross from the left which Adrien Rabiot headed home to double the advantage. Then in the 83rd minute, Mbappé—who had to leave the field a few minutes later due to a recurrence of an ankle issue—was substituted and replaced by Florian Thauvin, who added a third with a deft volley soon after coming on.
While the scoreline suggests routine control, coach Didier Deschamps was less than impressed. He criticised the team’s first-half performance, noting the ball circulation was “too slow” and that France looked flat for long periods. Despite that, the result preserves France’s perfect record in qualifiers: nine points from three matches, and an unbeaten streak in European and World Cup qualifiers stretching to 26 games.
Mbappé’s afternoon was a microcosm of his form: influential, decisive, but marred by concern over his fitness. His goal extended his run of scoring in consecutive matches, and his involvement in the second showed his ability to balance scoring and playmaking. Yet the ankle issue that forced him off casts a shadow over France’s upcoming fixtures.
Looking ahead, France will travel to Iceland next, hoping to consolidate their position at the top of the group and possibly seal qualification. With or without Mbappé at full strength, the win over Azerbaijan underlines the depth and ambition in this French side as they step toward the 2026 tournament.
