France and Ukraine go head-to-head in a crucial 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifier on Thursday evening at the Parc des Princes.
Les Bleus can secure their place at next summer’s tournament with a victory, whilst Ukraine must win to keep their automatic qualification hopes alive.
France vs Ukraine – Match preview and team news
- Date: Thursday, 13th November.
- Kick-off: 7:45pm BST.
- Venue: Parc Des Princes, Parish.
France team news
France will be without several key attacking players for this crucial qualifier. Paris Saint-Germain duo Ousmane Dembélé and Désiré Doué remain sidelined with injuries for a second consecutive international window.
Manager Didier Deschamps expressed his disappointment, stating: “I’m especially sad for Ousmane because last season he was spared, and now he’s having a run of injuries.”
The injury crisis deepened when Tottenham Hotspur striker Randal Kolo Muani withdrew from the squad after suffering a fractured lower jaw during his club’s 2-2 draw with Manchester United. The French Football Federation confirmed the injury with RC Lens winger Florian Thauvin called up as his replacement.
However, there is positive news for Les Bleus with the return of N’Golo Kanté, who last featured for France in November 2024.
Deschamps praised the Al-Ittihad midfielder, saying: “He is at his best level. When I call him, it’s not to make him feel he is part of the group, it’s to give him an important role”.
Real Madrid midfielder Aurélien Tchouaméni is absent due to a left hamstring injury sustained at club level.
Ukraine team news
Ukraine’s preparation has been severely disrupted by injuries to key players. Roma striker Artem Dovbyk, who has scored eleven goals for the national team, will miss both upcoming qualifiers after sustaining an injury to his left thigh during Roma’s 2-0 victory over Udinese.
Medical examinations revealed Dovbyk will be sidelined for four to six weeks. Head coach Serhiy Rebrov has made two changes to his initial squad, with injured duo Arseniy Batahov and Volodymyr Brazhko replaced by Taras Mykhavko and Yehor Nazaryna. Batahov was injured during a Trabzonspor training session, with MRI results predicting approximately one month out of action.
Real Madrid goalkeeper Andriy Lunin is unavailable, meaning Benfica’s Anatoliy Trubin will start between the posts. Rebrov called up Polissya goalkeeper Yevhen Volynets and Trabzonspor defender Batahov for their potential debuts, whilst Dynamo defender Oleksandr Karavayev returns to the squad for the first time since 2023.
Ahead of the match, Rebrov acknowledged the challenge: “We’re facing France tomorrow. It’s a world-class team, so we have to be fully prepared. I believe in my boys. I can feel their motivation, their hunger. I know we will give everything we have.”
Form
France
Didier Deschamps’ side currently top Group D with ten points from four matches, three points clear of Ukraine. Les Bleus began their qualifying campaign with a 2-0 victory over Ukraine in September, with goals from Michael Olise and Kylian Mbappé. They followed this with a 2-1 home win against Iceland before thrashing Azerbaijan 3-0 at the Parc des Princes, with Mbappé scoring and assisting.
Ukraine
Ukraine sit second in Group D with seven points from four matches, keeping their playoff hopes alive. Serhiy Rebrov’s side began with a 1-1 draw at home to Azerbaijan in September, before suffering a 2-0 defeat to France in their second qualifier.
Predicted lineups
France: Maignan; Kounde, Saliba, Upamecano, Digne; Kone, Kante; Barcola, Olise, Mbappe; Mateta.
Ukraine: Trubin; Konoplya, Zabarnyi, Matviyenko, Mykolenko; Shaparenko, Malinovskyi; Yaremchuk, Ocheretko, Voloshyn; Vanat.
How to watch France vs Ukraine?
Viewers can watch the match on Viaplay Sports, which has the UK broadcast rights for UEFA World Cup qualifiers.
Read Also – Ivan Toney receives transfer ‘enquiries’ from Premier League clubs
See More – Liverpool star addresses future amid Celtic transfer links
