World Cup 2026: Little Wriggle Room for Europeans Vying for States

Ukraine vs France

All international roads now lead Stateside.

That’s right, World Cup 2026 qualifying European style is about to return SBOTOP fans and, while some nations are virtually there, for others it is going to be a fairly quick campaign.

That’s because, with just nine months until the summer showpiece in the United States, no fewer than 24 international sides are only now about to get their qualifying campaigns underway.

It is very much the case in Group D which has pitted together four countries in Azerbaijan, Iceland, Ukraine and France – runners-up at the 2022 World Cup and winners in 2018.

 

Talking Points

There is no doubt France are the clear favourites and they must be extremely confident of claiming all three points in the opening match.

After all, they have reached the past two World Cup Finals, haven’t failed to reach a World Cup since 1994 (when they actually missed two tournaments in a row) and went unbeaten in the last qualifying campaign, topping their group with five wins and three draws from eight matches.

They are also used to playing top level opposition. Earlier this summer, they were beaten in a Nations League semi-final by Spain but went onto finish third by beating Germany 2-0 in a play-off.

They are certainly operating at different levels to their hosts and, led by the best player on planet football at the last World Cup, are expected to deliver some World Cup qualifying 2025 highlights.

The difference could not be much clearer. Ukraine have played Canada and New Zealand (ranked 28^th and 82^nd in the world respectively) in their last two international games and only managed to win one (albeit both were only friendlies).

Ukraine will definitely require a positive start if they are to put themselves in a strong position to advance from the group as the Blue and Yellow aim for a first World Cup appearance since 2006.

Many of you will remember how their qualifying campaign for 2022 ended in heartbreak, losing to Wales in one of the play-off finals.

Yet they can raise their game against more established footballing nations, as shown when they were only narrowly pipped by Belgium in the Nations League earlier this year, succumbing to a 4-3 aggregate defeat.

They also drew all three matches at Euro 2024 and were unfortunate to miss out on reaching the knockout stages.

Managed by former Dynamo Kiev ace, Sergiy Rebrov (once of Spurs), they will be without goalkeeper Andriy Lunin due to injury, while France are missing centre back William Saliba (who picked up a muscle injury in Premier League action last weekend) and new Manchester City recruit Rayan Cherki.

 

History

Their most recent meeting was also in a World Cup qualifier and actually came four years ago to this very day when Anthony Martial earned France a point after Mykola Shaparenko had put Ukraine ahead on the stroke of half-time.

That is one of five contests between the nations to have ended all square.

France have six wins and there has been just one Ukraine success – a key World Cup qualifying play-off in 2013 which the hosts won 2-0, thanks to second half goals from Roman Zozulya and Andriy Yarmolenko (penalty).

Four days later, however, France won the second leg in Paris – a 3-0 victory courtesy of a Mamadou Sakho double and Karim Benzema goal – to seal a 3-2 aggregate success and book their place at the tournament in Brazil the following summer.

Their very first meeting came in March 1999, a qualifier for Euro 2000 (which France won) which ended goalless in Paris.

Captaining France that night was the current manager Didier Deschamps.

 

Betting Tip

Our World Cup qualifying 2025 betting odds make Les Bleus overwhelming favourites as they launch their campaign to reach the States next summer.

Deschamps’ men can be backed 1X2 @ 1.35 or Asian Handicap -1.50 @ 2.21.

That is in stark contrast to the home nation who are on offer 1X2 @ 7.50 and Asian Handicap +1.25 @ 1.98.

The Draw has a definite appeal @ 4.34 and so, in truth, does Total Goal 2-3 @ 2.00.

A re-run of their last meeting four years ago, also which was played in Kyiv, is an option worth considering @ 8.80 with Correct Score 1-1.

The backdrop to the war-torn country in Ukraine puts them at an immediate disadvantage though as this match obviously cannot be played on home soil and, instead, will be contested in Poland.

That immediately rules out any full home support and I expect France to take advantage.

   

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