France booked their ticket to the 2026 World Cup with an emphatic win over Ukraine, powered by a Kylian Mbappé brace and Hugo Ekitike’s first international goal.
After a quiet opening 45 minutes, the match exploded into life in the second half. France were handed the breakthrough when Michael Olise was brought down in the area, and Mbappé converted with a cool Panenka, lifting the ball straight down the middle as Anatoliy Trubin dived away.
Ukraine felt hard done by, having moments earlier believed they might earn a penalty of their own. Referee Slavko Vincic initially allowed play to continue after Dayot Upamecano’s challenge, and even after a VAR review, he stuck with his decision.
France used that momentum to seize full control. Mbappé threatened twice more before Olise drilled in the second to give the hosts breathing room. The Real Madrid star then struck again late on, tapping in his 400th career goal and moving to 55 international goals, edging ever closer to Olivier Giroud’s national record of 57.
Mbappé rounded off a dominant performance by unselfishly teeing up Liverpool forward Hugo Ekitike, who slotted home between the keeper’s legs to open his France account.
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