Particle.news
Download on the App Store

France Qualifies for 2026 World Cup as FIFA Names Puskás Finalists and Egypt U17 Exit

UEFA group winners advance directly to the World Cup with runners-up moving to March playoffs.

Overview

  • France clinched the sole automatic berth from their qualifying group by beating Ukraine 4-0 in Paris to reach 13 points, six clear with one matchday left.
  • All goals came in the second half at the Parc des Princes, with Kylian Mbappé scoring twice and Michael Olise and Hugo Ekitike adding one each.
  • Mbappé’s brace lifted his international tally to 55 goals in 94 appearances for France.
  • FIFA released an 11-goal shortlist for the 2025 Puskás Award, featuring Egyptian forward Amr Nasser for a double backheel strike scored for Farco against Al Ahly last season.
  • Egypt’s U17s were knocked out of the World Cup in Doha after a 3-1 round‑of‑32 loss to Switzerland, who scored through Nevio Scherrer, Ethan Brochins and Jil Steil, with Anas Rushdy netting late for Egypt; Switzerland next faces the IrelandCanada winner.