France came from behind to secure a 3-1 victory over Azerbaijan in their final 2026 World Cup qualifying match in Baku. Maghnes Akliouche scored his first international goal, while Jean-Philippe Mateta and an own goal from Azerbaijan's goalkeeper completed the comeback. The win allowed France to top their group with style after already securing qualification.
Match Overview
In a World Cup qualifying encounter on November 16, 2025, in Baku, Azerbaijan took an early lead after just four minutes through Renat Dadashov's sharp finish from Rahman Dasdamirov's cross, marking the first time an Azerbaijani player scored against France. The hosts threatened further with efforts from Khayal Aliyev and Emin Mahmudov, but France leveled the score in the 17th minute when Malo Gusto delivered a cross for Jean-Philippe Mateta to head in, assisted by Maghnes Akliouche.
France turned the game around on the half-hour mark as Warren Zaire-Emery's diagonal pass found Gusto, who set up Akliouche for a close-range finish to make it 2-1. A chaotic corner just before halftime saw Azerbaijan goalkeeper Shahrudin Mahammadaliyev punch the ball into his own net, extending France's lead to 3-1. In the second half, France created chances through Christopher Nkunku, Rayan Cherki, Theo Hernandez, and Marcus Thuram, but no further goals came. A pitch invader briefly interrupted play, though Azerbaijan struggled after substitutions disrupted their rhythm.
Post-Match Reactions
Akliouche expressed pride after his debut goal: “I’m very proud to have scored my first goal for Les Bleus. There’s always a bit of pressure, but it’s good pressure for me. Being good and decisive is important for an attacking player. I’m happy today.” Warren Zaire-Emery added: “The most important thing is that the job is done. It’s true that there were two different halves, we managed to raise our level. These are complicated matches when you know that you are already qualified.”
Azerbaijan coach Aykhan Abbasov noted: “We have players missing, but I believe we will compete well with the support of the fans.” France, under Didier Deschamps, finished atop a group featuring Ukraine, Iceland, and Azerbaijan, dropping points only once. They now await the World Cup draw on December 5, 2025, in Washington DC.
Key Stats
- Goals: Renat Dadashov (4') for Azerbaijan; Jean-Philippe Mateta (17'), Maghnes Akliouche (30'), Own goal (45+') for France.
- Debuts: Lucas Chevalier (GK) and Maghnes Akliouche for France.
- Absences: France without Kylian Mbappe (ankle), Ousmane Dembele, and others; Azerbaijan missing Toral Bayramov and Elvin Jafarguliyev.