France defeated Ukraine 4-0 at the Parc des Princes on Thursday and secured qualification for the FIFA World Cup 2026.

Kylian Mbappe scored twice, Michael Olise added one, and Hugo Ekitike netted his first international goal to complete the victory.

The result gave France an unassailable six-point lead over Iceland and Ukraine in Group D with one match remaining. Didier Deschamps guided his team to another finals appearance, his last tournament before stepping down as coach. France, winner in 2018 and runner-up in 2022, extended its record of qualifying for every edition since missing out in 1994.

The evening carried emotional weight as 41,000 spectators observed a minute’s silence to mark the tenth anniversary of the 2015 Paris attacks. The tribute honoured the 130 victims, including t

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