Rabat – France will host Ukraine in an important 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifier at the Parc des Princes, Paris, on Thursday.
If Didier Deschamps’s squad manages to take the three points, it would lock up a spot for them in next summer’s tournament with automatic first-place qualification. Ukraine, meanwhile, want to avoid slipping to third place in their group to keep up their hopes of making it to the 2026 World Cup.
Here’s how qualification works in the UEFA Qualifiers phase: group winners get a direct ticket to the tournament, while the runners-up get sent to the playoffs. France can secure their ticket with a win in Paris, while Ukraine must at least draw to stay within reach of second place.
Match Details
- Fixture: France vs Ukraine
- Competition: UEFA 2026 World Cup Qualifier — Group D
- Venue: Parc des Princes, Paris, France
- Date: Thursday, 13 November 2025
- Kick-off: 20:45 GMT+1 (local time)
How & Where to watch
The match will be broadcast live on TF1, DAZN, beIN SPORTS, Megogo, Suspilne Sport.
𝑪𝒆 𝒔𝒐𝒊𝒓, 𝒕𝒐𝒖𝒕 𝒖𝒏 𝒑𝒂𝒚𝒔 𝒅𝒆𝒓𝒓𝒊𝒆̀𝒓𝒆 𝒍𝒆𝒔 𝑩𝒍𝒆𝒖𝒔 💙
🇫🇷🇺🇦 Un match décisif pour décrocher le billet à la Coupe du Monde 2026 🌎
Rendez-vous à 20h45 sur TF1 📺#FRAUKR | #FiersdetreBleus pic.twitter.com/W3oKjcQ5sm
— Equipe de France ⭐⭐ (@equipedefrance) November 13, 2025
France Team News
Les Bleus go into this match on an unbeaten run in Group D, currently sitting top of the table and on the verge of a direct ticket to the 2026 World Cup. Now that they get to the final two games of the year, they must do so without some important players.
Injuries / Absences:
- Randal Kolo Muani (jaw injury) — withdrawn from the squad.
- Ousmane Dembélé, Adrien Rabiot, Aurélien Tchouaméni, and Désiré Doué — all sidelined.
- Eduardo Camavinga — doubtful with a hamstring issue.
Predicted lineup (4–2–3–1): Maignan —Digne — Upamecano — Saliba — Koundé — Kanté, Koné —Barcola — Cherki — Olise — Mbappé.
We can expect Deschamps to put his faith in Kylian Mbappé up front to lead the line by his pace and leadership, and supported by an exciting attacking trio of Olise, Cherki, and Barcola. With a few of their crucial midfield players missing, N’Golo Kanté has to play a key role in helping hold the fort alongside Manu Koné.
Ukraine Team News
Ukraine on the other hand arrive in Paris in 2nd place in Group D and still in with a shout of a playoff place. Coach Sergiy Rebrov will be looking to field a solid, well-organized team that will look to cause France some problems by getting players forward quickly and hitting on the counterattack.
Injuries / Absences:
- Oleksandr Zinchenko — ruled out.
- Artem Dovbyk — doubtful with a minor knock.
Predicted lineup(4–4–2): Trubin, Mykolenko — Matviienko — Zabarnyi — Konaplya, Voloshyn — Yarmoliuk — Malinovskyi — Tsygankov, Vanat — Dovbyk.
Rebrov’s tactic will likely be to keep things tight and look to catch France’s attackers out with Mykhailo Mudryk’s pace and Ruslan Malinovskyi’s creativity on the break. They will look to get behind France’s full-backs and create some space to attack.
From the start of the match, France will probably control possession and territory, exploiting their width and pressing Ukraine when they have the ball. The visitors will look to counter-attack quickly and/or take advantage of set-pieces to create threats. With their depth and home advantage, Les Bleus remain clear favourites.
Safe calls:
- Safe Bets: France to Win
- Over 2.5 Goals
- Both Teams to Score: Yes
- Score Prediction: France 3–1 Ukraine
