Deprived of many players, particularly in attack, the France team did not shine during this October gathering. Three days after their 3-0 victory against Azerbaijan, the Blues were indeed unable to win in Iceland, having to settle for a draw (2-2). A poor performance which completely restarts the race for qualification in Group D.
Because at the same time, Ukraine, three days after its great victory in Iceland, secured the essential against Azerbaijan by winning 2-1. Enough to allow it to come back three lengths from France in the race for first place, directly qualifying for the 2026 World Cup.
The November matches will therefore be decisive and particularly the meeting between France and Ukraine on November 13. Didier Deschamps' men, who won 2-0 in the first leg, will have a golden opportunity to book their ticket to America since a victory would guarantee them first place. In the event of a draw, the Blues will have to win three days later in Azerbaijan to validate their qualification.
The Blues qualified whatever happens in the play-offs
A defeat against Ukraine, however, would compromise their chances of qualifying. The Ukrainians would indeed come back to level with the Blues and to decide between them, we would then have to look at the goal difference. For now, the France team has the advantage with +6 goal difference against +1 for Ukraine.
The gap would return to at least +3 in the event of a victory for Ukraine against the Blues and Illiya Zabernyi's teammates will have the advantage of welcoming Iceland when the Blues travel to Baku.
Note that if the French team were ahead of Ukraine, it would not say goodbye to the 2026 World Cup. It would in fact qualify for the play-offs which will bring together the twelve second-placed groups as well as the four best group winners of the Nations League.
