France, currently sitting third in the FIFA World Ranking, have officially secured their status as a top-seeded team for the 2026 World Cup draw. Even if Didier Deschamps’ side fail to finish first in their qualifying group, their strong ranking guarantees a place in the top pot — making the remaining qualifiers more about prestige than necessity.

The situation is quite different for Ukraine. For Serhiy Rebrov’s team, the upcoming clash with France is absolutely crucial. A positive result against one of the tournament’s favourites would not only strengthen Ukraine’s chances of reaching the World Cup, but also prove that the team can compete on equal footing with Europe’s elite.

On Thursday night, Ukraine’s path to the 2026 World Cup will go directly through a decisive showdown with France.