French striker finds the net again as Les Bleus begin 2026 World Cup qualifying campaign
GENEVA — Kylian Mbappé made a triumphant return to World Cup competition on Friday, finding the back of the net as France claimed a convincing 2-0 victory against Ukraine in their opening 2026 World Cup qualifier.
The match marked France’s first World Cup qualifying fixture since their dramatic final defeat to Argentina in 2022, where Mbappé’s hat-trick wasn’t enough to prevent Lionel Messi’s side from claiming the trophy. Les Bleus entered this campaign determined to bounce back from their disappointment as defending champions.
Michael Olise opened the scoring for France after just ten minutes, setting the tone for a dominant performance. Mbappé sealed the victory in the 82nd minute, showcasing his trademark pace and technical ability to beat Ukrainian defender Illia Zabarnyi before converting his chance.
Italy Dominates Estonia in Qualification Return
Meanwhile, Italy made an emphatic statement in their quest to return to football’s biggest stage, crushing Estonia 5-0 on home soil. The four-time world champions have been absent from World Cup competition since 2014 and are eager to reclaim their place among the elite.
Despite creating numerous opportunities, Italy had to wait until the 58th minute to break the deadlock, with Moise Kean’s header finally rewarding their persistent attacking play after nearly 20 goal attempts. This victory helps Italy keep pace with Group leaders Norway, who didn’t feature in Friday’s fixtures. Israel also impressed with a commanding 4-0 victory over Moldova in the same qualifying group.
Switzerland and Greece Start Strong
Both Switzerland and Greece kicked off their qualifying campaigns in impressive fashion, each establishing four-goal advantages by halftime in their respective matches.
Switzerland overwhelmed Kosovo in a comprehensive 4-0 victory, while Greece delivered an even more emphatic 5-1 triumph over Belarus. The Greek victory was highlighted by teenager Kostas Karetsas, who needed less than three minutes to score on his World Cup qualifying debut at just 17 years old.
Mixed Results Across Other Groups
Sweden faced frustration in Slovenia, surrendering leads twice in an eventual 2-2 draw. The Slovenians equalized for the second time in stoppage time, denying Sweden maximum points. Notably, Liverpool’s new signing Aleksander Isak remained on the bench due to his delayed season start.
Croatia, who reached the final and semi-final in the previous two World Cups respectively, maintained their strong qualifying form with a 1-0 away victory over the Faroe Islands. This result extended their winning streak to three consecutive matches. In the same group, Czech Republic strengthened their position as group leaders with a solid 2-0 victory in Montenegro.
France’s group also saw Iceland deliver a statement performance, routing Azerbaijan 5-0 at home to announce their qualifying ambitions.
In a surprising result, Denmark was held to a goalless draw by Scotland on home soil, allowing Greece to assume early leadership of their qualification group.
The 2026 World Cup qualifying campaign promises intense competition as European nations battle for their places at the expanded tournament, set to be hosted across the United States, Canada, and Mexico.