After South America and Asia, then Africa in recent days, Europe will experience the outcome of its 2026 World Cup qualifiers during the international window in November. The French team, if it missed the boat in Iceland on Monday evening (2-2), remains in a position of strength and can celebrate “America” ​​at the Parc des Princes, on November 13, when its runner-up Ukraine comes (3 points less). In the event of a narrow defeat, the Blues will still be leaders before finishing in Azerbaijan…
Third Fifa nation behind Spain and ahead of Argentina, France will have the enormous advantage of being one of the 12 seeds in the draw for World Cup 26, scheduled for December 5 in Washington DC (6 p.m. in France). Kylian Mbappé and his teammates will not be able to come across the three host countries, Canada, the United States and Mexico, nor the other favorites for the coronation.
Argentina, Brazil and England are already qualified, while Spain, Portugal, the Netherlands, Belgium and Germany wait. The Mannschaft will be the last team in pot 1 in the event of qualification next month and if this is not the case, Croatia would then climb among the top seeds (at the expense of Morocco). The November Fifa Ranking will determine the four hats but it should not move much.
France against Norway or Italy?
With the expansion of the Fifa tournament to 48 participants, the 12 seeds can inherit a group of poor quality, for example falling on Iran and Australia in pot 2! Qatar, Uzbekistan and South Africa are projected in hat 3, like Jordan, Cape Verde and New Zealand in 4… It would be far too easy for the Blues' offensive armada.
The concern, for France as for other major nations, is that it is also possible to find yourself with three strong opponents, knowing that the Europeans can find themselves two in the same group. That would be very unlucky! We must therefore avoid Morocco, Colombia or Senegal in hat 2 and Erling Haaland's Norway, Egypt or Algeria in hat 3. The worst, above all, would be to come across Italy or Turkey in hat 4, the winners of the European play-offs being installed there.
