France Triumphs Over Azerbaijan in 2026 World Cup Qualifier

The match of the 6th round of the European qualifiers for the 2026 World Cup between the national teams of Azerbaijan and France has concluded. The French team secured a 3:1 victory in this encounter, which took place at the Tofiq Bahramov Stadium in Baku, Azerbaijan. The game was officiated by a refereeing team led by Andris Treimanis from Kuldiha, Latvia.

Renat Dadashev opened the scoring in the fourth minute, putting Azerbaijan ahead. However, Jean-Philippe Mateta equalized in the 17th minute. By the 30th minute, Magnes Akliush had given the visitors the lead. Just before halftime, in the 45+1 minute, Shahruudin Magomedaliev unfortunately netted an own goal.

As a result of the group stage in the 2026 World Cup qualifiers, Azerbaijan finished in last place in Group D with just one point, while France topped the group with 16 points.

The 2026 World Cup will feature 48 national teams divided into 12 groups of four teams each. The promotion to the playoff stage will include the top two teams from each group, as well as the eight best third-placed teams. Additionally, the tournament will introduce a new round: the Round of 32.