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Upamecano Leads France Into Ukraine Qualifier With 2026 World Cup Berth at Stake

Deschamps calls the Bayern center-back one of the world's best before Thursday's match in Paris.

Dayot Upamecano au match aller contre l'Ukraine, le 5 septembre à Wroclaw en Pologne.
Dayot Upamecano répond à la presse mardi à Clairefontaine avant le match contre l'Ukraine de jeudi.
Dayot Upamecano pendant le match contre Azerbaijan le 10 octobre au parc des Princes.

Overview

  • A win at the Parc des Princes would seal France’s place at the 2026 World Cup, while any other result leaves qualification to a final trip to Azerbaijan on Sunday.
  • Upamecano says he has gained maturity and reliability, crediting family support and coaching for erasing the concentration lapses that once hurt his game.
  • Fresh off stifling PSG in Bayern’s 2-1 Champions League victory last week, he returns to the same stadium and describes the qualifier as a final.
  • Ukraine sit three points behind France in the group, and Upamecano anchored a 2-0 French win in the away meeting played in Wroclaw.
  • Asked about transfer talk as his contract runs to next June, he dismissed speculation — including links to PSG — and said he is focused on Bayern and the national team.