France 4-0 Ukraine: Mbappe´s second-half dominance books hosts´ World Cup spot

Kylian Mbappe put on a second-half show with two goals and an assist as France booked their spot at the 2026 World Cup with a 4-0 win over Ukraine.

Didier Deschamps’ side moved an unassailable six points clear of both Iceland and Thursday’s opponents with one game to play in Group D, after a comfortable win at the Parc des Princes.

Anatoliy Trubin kept his side level in the first half as the Ukraine goalkeeper repelled Mbappe’s drive before producing an expert stop to push Bradley Barcola’s effort onto his right-hand post.

France then survived a nervy VAR review after Dayot Upamecano lunged to block Yehor Nazaryna’s shot early into the second half, before seeing a penalty appeal go their way at the other end.

Taras Mykhavko was deemed to have felled Michael Olise after Rayan Cherki’s ball in behind, and Mbappe made no mistake from 12 yards as he dinked a cool finish down the middle in the 55th minute.

France furthered their lead, and effectively made sure of all three points, when Olise swivelled on N’Golo Kante’s pass and fired into the bottom-left corner with 14 minutes remaining.

Mbappe then doubled his personal account seven minutes later, profiting from Hugo Ekitike’s industrious work to power home from close range, before the France forward returned the favour.

Ekitike turned from creator to finisher with just two minutes left, waiting patiently for Mbappe to centre before sweeping past Trubin to seal an emphatic win.