Internationals: France begin World Cup qualifying with victory

France begin their 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifying campaign with a 2-0 victory over Ukraine in Wroclaw on Friday night, thanks to goals from Michael Olise and Kylian Mbappé.

Didier Deschamps, beginning his final qualifying journey as Les Bleus’ head coach, handed starts to Bradley Barcola (Paris Saint-Germain) and Désiré Doué (Paris Saint-Germain), with Olise (Bayern Munich) deployed as a central playmaker in a 4-2-3-1.

The visitors made the perfect start when Barcola’s burst down the left ended with a cutback for Olise, who swept home into the far corner after just 10 minutes. It was the 21-year-old’s third goal in four senior appearances for France.

Ukraine grew into the contest after the interval, striking the woodwork and forcing crucial defensive interventions from Ibrahima Konaté (Liverpool) and Mike Maignan (AC Milan). France, however, held firm before sealing the points late on.

With eight minutes remaining, Aurélien Tchouaméni (Real Madrid) split the Ukrainian defence with a superb through-ball for Mbappé. The captain glided past Illia Zabarnyi and finished clinically past Anatoliy Trubin to wrap up the win.

There was one downside for Deschamps: Ousmane Dembélé (PSG), introduced at half-time, was forced off with a thigh injury and replaced by Hugo Ekitike, who made his senior debut. Another Ligue 1 McDonald's talent would make their debut for Les Bleus as AS Monaco's Maghnes Akliouche then made his entry for Didier Deschamps' side during injury time.

France now turn their attention to their second qualifier, at home against Iceland on Tuesday, 9 September at the Parc des Princes.

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