Have France qualified for World Cup 2026? Les Bleus results, past record at FIFA soccer tournament

Dom Farrell

Have France qualified for World Cup 2026? Les Bleus results, past record at FIFA soccer tournament image

France conclude their Group D campaign in UEFA's World Cup qualifying section this month.

Long-serving head coach Didier Deschamps has overseen an undefeated run through four games so far, leaving Les Bleus well-placed to book a spot in North America next year.

Deschamps has led France to the final of the past two tournaments in Russia and Qatar respectively, with Kylian Mbappe keen to lead another charge for football's biggest prize.

AllSportsPeople examines the state of play of France's qualification hopes.

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Have France qualified for World Cup 2026?

As of matchday five in UEFA Group D, France are strong favourites to secure automatic qualification to the World Cup, but they are yet to do so.

They are top of the standings with 10 points from four matches. 

Victory over second-placed Ukraine in Paris on November 13 would make sure of a first-placed finish and progress to the 2026 tournament.

Michael Olise and Kylian Mbappe got the goals when France beat Ukraine 2-0 in their opening qualifier.

MORE: All you need to know about how UEFA's World Cup qualifying section works

France World Cup qualifying results, fixtures

France have two games left in Group D:

  • Thursday, November 13: France vs. Ukraine
  • Sunday, November 16: Azerbaijan vs. France

France World Cup 2026 qualifying results

DateMatchVenue
September 5, 2025Ukraine 0-2 FranceWorclaw Stadium (Worclaw, Poland)
September 9, 2025France  2-1 IcelandParc des Princes (Paris, France)
October 10, 2025France  3-0 AzerbaijanParc des Princes (Paris, France)
October 13, 2025Iceland 2-2 FranceLaugardalsvöllur (Reykjavik, Iceland)
November 13, 2025France vs. UkraineParc des Princes (Paris, France)
November 16, 2025Azerbaijan vs. FranceSan Siro (Milan, Italy)

France World Cup record

France have won the FIFA World Cup twice in 1998 and 2018. They have been one of the most competitive nations of the modern era and finished as runners-up in 2006 and 2022 - losing on penalties on both occasions.

Les Bleus have qualified for 16 of the 22 tournaments in history. They did not qualify for the two editions immediately before their first success in 1998.

In 1938, France became the first host nation not to win the World Cup after Uruguay and Italy's successes in 1930 and 1934 respectively

France record at the World Cup

YearStage reachedHost nation
1930Group stageUruguay
1934Round of 16Italy
1938QuarterfinalsFrance
1950Did not qualifyBrazil
1954Group stageSwitzerland
1958Third placeSweden
1962Did not qualifyChile
1966Group stageEngland
1970Did not qualifyMexico
1974Did not qualifyWest Germany
1978Group stageArgentina
1982Fourth placeSpain
1986Third placeMexico
1990Did not qualifyItaly
1994Did not qualifyUnited States
1998WonFrance
2002Group stageJapan and South Korea
2006Runners-upGermany
2010Group stageSouth Africa
2014QuarterfinalsBrazil
2018WonRussia
2022Runners-upQatar

MORE: Revisiting the 1930 World Cup — the start of a sporting revolution

France World Cup schedule

Should they qualify, France's 2026 schedule will not be known until the World Cup draw, when the six groups are decided and pathways to the final become clearer.

When is the World Cup draw?

The draw for the 2026 World Cup takes place in Washington, D.C. On Friday, December 5.

The ceremony is due to start at 12 p.m. Local time (ET).

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