France head into their final World Cup qualifier with the pressure off, but motivation remains high as they travel to face Azerbaijan in Baku. Their 4-0 win over Ukraine, led by a Kylian Mbappé brace, officially sealed their place at the 2026 World Cup, a result covered by SoftFootball in their report on France’s qualification success. Another update also confirmed that Mbappé has now left the camp due to an ankle issue as he returns to Madrid for treatment.
Azerbaijan approach this match from a very different place. Their World Cup hopes ended weeks ago, and their recent form has been bleak. They remain winless in 15 straight matches and struggled again in their last outing, a 2-0 loss to Iceland. Despite playing at home, confidence is low, and their last eight matches in Baku have brought no victories.
France, meanwhile, want to complete a second consecutive unbeaten WCQ cycle. They have scored at least two goals in four of their last five away matches, although only two of those ended in wins. Their history against Azerbaijan offers confidence too, with three previous meetings producing a combined 15-0 scoreline.
Team News
Azerbaijan will miss Rustam Ahmadzada due to suspension. The squad has struggled for cutting edge, scoring more than once in none of their last 15 matches. Toral Bayramov could pose their biggest threat, though his bookings have been more frequent than his goals in recent months.
France have confirmed the absence of Mbappé, who returned to Madrid after his ankle inflammation was assessed. Eduardo Camavinga has also left the camp with a thigh issue. Jules Koundé and Manu Koné remain suspended. These absences may give younger players like Warren Zaïre-Emery and Bradley Barcola more minutes.
Possible Lineups
Azerbaijan (3-4-2-1): Bayramov (GK); Badalov, Mustafazade, Krivotsyuk; Huseynov, Makhmudov, Khaybulaev, Abbasov; Akhmedzade, Aliyev; Akhundzade
France (4-2-3-1): Chevalier; Gusto, Konate, Saliba, L Hernandez; Zaire-Emery, Kante; Nkunku, Cherki, Barcola; Ekitike
France shared a post on their official X account, showing the team traveling to Azerbaijan for their final 2026 World Cup qualifier.
Check the post below:
Softfootball’s Prediction
Azerbaijan’s long winless run and France’s depth make this matchup heavily tilted in favour of the visitors. Even without Mbappé, Les Bleus have the rhythm, structure, and attacking quality to control the game.
Prediction: Azerbaijan 3-0 France.
