France's national team, which is a rival to Ukraine in the 2026 World Cup qualification along with Azerbaijan and Iceland, lost to Germany in the third-place match of the Nations League-2024/2025.

Didier Deschamps' team met Germany in Stuttgart in the third-place match of the Nations League. The French scored one goal in each half and secured a 2-0 victory.

Nations League-2024/2025

Match for 3rd place

Germany — France — 0:2 (0:1)

Goals: Mbappé (45), Olise (84).

France: Menyan, Justo, Bade, L. Hernandez, Digne, Camavinga (Kone, 68), Rabio, Kolé Muani (Duje, 68), Cherki (Olise, 68), Thuram (Genduzi, 90), Mbappé.

The winner of the Nations League was Portugal's national team, which in the final match won against Spain on penalties with a score of 5-3.

Final

Portugal — Spain — 2:2 (1:2), on penalties — 5:3

Goals: Mendes (26), Ronaldo (61) — Subiende (21), Oyarzabal (45).

2026 World Cup. UEFA Zone Qualification. First Round

Group A: Germany, Slovakia, Northern Ireland, Luxembourg.

Group B: Switzerland, Sweden, Slovenia, Kosovo.

Group C: Denmark, Greece, Scotland, Belarus.

Group D: France, Ukraine, Iceland, Azerbaijan.

Group E: Spain, Turkey, Georgia, Bulgaria.

Group F: Portugal, Hungary, Ireland, Armenia.

Group G: Netherlands, Poland, Finland, Lithuania, Malta.

Group H: Austria, Romania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Cyprus, San Marino.

Group I: Italy, Norway, Israel, Estonia, Moldova.

Group J: Belgium, Wales, North Macedonia, Kazakhstan, Liechtenstein.

Group K: England, Serbia, Albania, Latvia, Andorra.

Group L: Croatia, Czech Republic, Montenegro, Faroe Islands, Gibraltar.

Schedule of Group D Matches

1st Round. 05.09.2025

Ukraine — France 21:45

Iceland — Azerbaijan 21:45

2nd Round. 09.09.2025

Azerbaijan — Ukraine 19:00

France — Iceland 21:45

3rd Round. 10.10.2025

Iceland — Ukraine 21:45

France — Azerbaijan 21:45

4th Round. 13.10.2025

Ukraine — Azerbaijan 21:45

Iceland — France 21:45

5th Round. 13.11.2025

Azerbaijan — Iceland 19:00

France — Ukraine 21:45

6th Round. 16.11.2025

Ukraine — Iceland 19:00

Azerbaijan — France 19:00

Kiev time.

UEFA (Europe): 16 spots.

The European zone qualification will take place from March 2025 to March 2026 and consist of two rounds. Teams will compete for 16 spots at the World Cup.

First Round: Twelve groups with five or four teams each will play from March to November 2025 in a traditional group stage system. The twelve group winners will receive direct tickets to the final stage.

The twelve teams that finish second, along with the four best group winners of the UEFA Nations League-2024/2025 who finish below second place in the European qualification group stage, will participate in mini-tournaments.

Second Round: mini-tournaments in March 2026 will consist of one-legged semi-finals and finals. The sixteen participants will be divided into four playoff paths. Four winners will receive tickets to the 2026 World Cup.

AFC (Asia): 8 spots + 1 place in intercontinental playoffs.

CAF (Africa): 9 spots + 1 place in intercontinental playoffs.

CONCACAF (North and Central America): 3 tournament organizers + 3 spots + 2 places in intercontinental playoffs.

CONMEBOL (South America): 6 spots + 1 place in intercontinental playoffs.

OFC (Oceania): 1 spot + 1 place in intercontinental playoffs.

Intercontinental Playoffs: 2 spots.

2026 World Cup. Final Tournament

The 2026 World Cup will be the first in history to feature 48 national teams in the final stage, divided into twelve groups of four teams each. The top two teams from each group and eight best third-place teams will advance to the round of 16.

The matches of the 23rd World Cup will take place in sixteen cities. These are: in Canada — Toronto and Vancouver, in Mexico — Guadalajara, Mexico City and Monterrey, in the USA — Atlanta, Boston, Dallas, Houston, Kansas City, Los Angeles, Miami, New York, Philadelphia, San Francisco, and Seattle.

The opening match of the World Cup will take place on June 11, 2026 in Mexico City, while the final will be held in New York on July 19.

Final Tournament Schedule for the 2026 World Cup