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New Delhi: France qualified for the 2026 FIFA World Cup after securing a 4-0 home victory against Ukraine on Thursday. Captain Kylian Mbappe scored a brace in the second half of an emotionally charged game that was played on the 10th anniversary of attacks that killed 130 people in Paris.
France are in the first position of Group D with 13 points from five matches and has an unassailable six-point lead over second-placed Iceland. They will face bottom-placed Azerbaijan in their final qualifier game on Sunday.
Deschamps's team threatened two times in the first half, but failed to convert the chances. Les Bleus scored their first goal in the 55th minute when Mbappe converted a penalty with a brilliant chip in the middle of the goal after Michael Olise had been tripped in the area.
Olise made it 2-0 with a brilliant shot on the turn after being set up by N'Golo Kante. Captain Mbappe netted his second goal in the 83rd minute after Ekitike’s attempt was parried by Trubin into his way, and the striker slotted it home with a simple finish. Five minutes later, Ekitike combined with Mbappe to score his first France goal with a clinical low shot.
Ireland stunned Portugal 2-0 to keep their hopes alive for next year's FIFA World Cup and make the Nations League champions wait to automatically qualify for the tournament in a night where their captain, Cristiano Ronaldo, was sent off.
Ireland have not qualified for a major tournament in a decade and last reached a World Cup in 2002. They needed at least a draw to keep their qualification hopes alive, and a first-half double from Troy Parrott helped them to beat Portugal.
They still need a victory to book a spot in next March's playoffs after second-placed Hungary won 1-0 in Armenia. A draw at home against a bottom-placed Armenia is likely to help Portugal secure an automatic qualification for the 2026 World Cup.
But they have to do it without Ronaldo, as the 40-year-old was red-carded just before the hour mark of the match after swinging an elbow at Ireland defender Dara O’Shea in an off-the-ball incident.
He was initially shown a yellow card by on-field referee Glenn Nyberg, but the video assistant referee (VAR) recommended an on-field review, which subsequently saw the forward sent off.
It was the 12th red card of Ronaldo's career, but his first at the international level. He had been previously sent off three times for Manchester United, six times for Real Madrid, once for Juventus and his current club, Al-Nassr.
Parrott scored the opening goal for Ireland in the 17th minute of the match after Liam Scales headed a fizzed-in corner back across, and Parrott could not miss. Ireland doubled the lead when Chiedozie Ogbene hit the post with a fine effort before AZ Alkmaar striker Parrott found the bottom corner with a stunning finish just before the break.
Portugal, who are assured at least a playoff spot, are two points ahead of Hungary at the top of Group F with a much better goal difference, and Ireland are one point further back.
