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CS-2026 qualifier. France's national team made two forced substitutions.
The head coach of the French national team, which will be our national team's first opponent in the 2026 World Cup qualifier (September 5, Wroclaw), Didier Deschamps has made two forced changes to the squad announced last Wednesday.
South Equator. Photo fff.fr
The head coach of France, who will be the first opponent of our national team in the 2026 World Cup qualifiers (September 5, Wroclaw), Didier Deschamps has made two forced changes to the squad announced last Wednesday.
In place of injured defender William Saliba of English Arsenal, back Benjamin Pavard of Italian Inter is called up by Les Bleus. Pavard has 55 caps for France and five goals scored.
In place of injured striker Ryan Christie of Manchester City, an absolute debutant, forward Hugo Ekitike of Liverpool, is called up.
Squad of France
Goalkeepers: Mike Maignan («Milan», Italy), Lucas Chevalier («PSG»), Brice Samba («Rennes»).
Defenders: Lucas Digne («Aston Villa», England), Malo Gusto («Chelsea», England), Theo Hernandez («Al-Hilal», Saudi Arabia), Ibrahima Konate («Liverpool», England), Jules Kounde («Barcelona», Spain), Benjamin Pavard («Inter», Italy), Dayot Upamecano («Bayern Munich», Germany), Lucas Hernandez («PSG»).
Midfielders: Manu Koné («Roma», Italy), Orel Mangane («Real Madrid», Spain), Héfren Türam («Juventus», Italy), Désiré D'Ursi («PSG»), Adrien Rabiot («Marseille»).
Forwards: Magnez Akliush («Monaco»), Hugo Ekitike («Liverpool», England), Kylian Mbappé («Real Madrid», Spain), Michael Olise («Bayern Munich», Germany), Marcus Thuram («Inter», Italy), Bredley Barkola, Ousmane Dembélé (both — «PSG»).
Reminder: The match between the national teams of Ukraine and France in the 2026 World Cup qualifiers will take place on September 5 in Wroclaw, Poland at «Tychy Stadium Wroclaw». The French team will play against Iceland on September 9 at «Parc des Princes» in Paris.
2026 World Cup Qualifiers. UEFA Zone First Round
Group A: Germany, Slovakia, Northern Ireland, Luxembourg.
Group B: Switzerland, Sweden, Slovenia, Kosovo.
Group C: Denmark, Greece, Scotland, Belarus.
Group D: France, Ukraine, Iceland, Azerbaijan.
Group E: Spain, Turkey, Georgia, Bulgaria.
Group F: Portugal, Hungary, Ireland, Armenia.
Group G: Netherlands, Poland, Finland, Lithuania, Malta.
Group H: Austria, Romania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Cyprus, San Marino.
Group I: Italy, Norway, Israel, Estonia, Moldova.
Group J: Belgium, Wales, North Macedonia, Kazakhstan, Liechtenstein.
Group K: England, Serbia, Albania, Latvia, Andorra.
Group L: Croatia, Czech Republic, Montenegro, Faroe Islands, Gibraltar.
Schedule of Group D
Round 1. September 5, 2025
Ukraine — France 9:45 PM, Wroclaw
Iceland — Azerbaijan 9:45 PM, Reykjavik
Round 2. September 9, 2025
Azerbaijan — Ukraine 6:00 PM, Baku
France —Iceland 9:45 PM, Paris
Round 3. October 10, 2025
Iceland — Ukraine 9:45 PM, Reykjavik
France —Azerbaijan 9:45 PM, Paris
Round 4. October 13, 2025
Ukraine — Azerbaijan 9:45 PM
Iceland — France 9:45 PM, Reykjavik
Round 5. November 13, 2025
Azerbaijan — Iceland 6:00 PM, Baku
France —Ukraine 9:45 PM, Paris
Round 6. November 16, 2025
Ukraine — Iceland 6:00 PM
Azerbaijan — France 6:00 PM, Baku
Kiev time.
UEFA (Europe): 16 spots.
The European zone qualification will take place from March 2025 to March 2026 and consist of two rounds. Teams will compete for 16 spots at the World Cup.
Round 1: Twelve groups with five or four teams each will play from March to November 2025 in a traditional group stage system. The twelve group winners will receive direct tickets to the final stage.
The twelve second-placed teams and the four best group winners of UEFA Nations League 2024/2025 who finish below second place in the European qualification group stage will participate in mini-tournaments.
Round 2: mini-tournaments in March 2026 will consist of one-legged semi-finals and finals. The sixteen participants will be divided into four playoff paths. Four winners will receive spots at the 2026 World Cup.
AFC (Asia): 8 spots + 1 place in intercontinental playoffs.
CAF (Africa): 9 spots + 1 place in intercontinental playoffs.
CONCACAF (North and Central America): 3 tournament hosts + 3 spots + 2 places in intercontinental playoffs.
CONMEBOL (South America): 6 spots + 1 place in intercontinental playoffs.
OFC (Oceania): 1 spot + 1 place in intercontinental playoffs.
Intercontinental Playoffs: 2 spots.
2026 World Cup. Final Tournament
The 2026 World Cup will be the first in history to feature 48 national teams in the final stage. There will be twelve groups of four teams each. The top two teams from each group and eight best third-placed teams advance to the round of 16.
Matches of the 23rd World Cup will take place in sixteen cities. They are: Toronto and Vancouver in Canada, Guadalajara, Mexico City and Monterrey in Mexico, Atlanta, Boston, Dallas, Houston, Kansas City, Los Angeles, Miami, New York, Philadelphia, San Francisco and Seattle in the USA.
The opening match of the World Cup will take place on June 11, 2026 in Mexico City, while the final will be held at New York's MetLife Stadium on July 19.
