France beat Ukraine to qualify for men’s World Cup, Ireland stun Portugal, Norway win

PARIS - France booked a spot for their eighth consecutive World Cup after a Kylian Mbappe double helped to secure a 4-0 home victory against Ukraine on Nov 13.

Les Bleus, who are unbeaten in a Euro or World Cup qualifying game since 2019, will be seeded when the draw for the June 11-July 19 tournament in the United States, Mexico and Canada is made on Dec 5.

The 2026 finals will be coach Didier Deschamps’ last in charge.

Captain Mbappe found the back of the net twice in the second half of an emotionally charged game that was played on the 10th anniversary of attacks that killed 130 people in Paris.

He scored either side of Michael Olise’s 76th-minute goal, before Hugo Ekitike added a late fourth.

France top Europe’s Group D with 13 points from five games and have an unassailable six-point lead over second-placed Iceland.

They will face bottom-placed Azerbaijan in their final qualifier on Nov 16.

Portugal’s Ronaldo sees red

Ireland, meanwhile, stunned Nations League winners Portugal 2-0, with captain Cristiano Ronaldo being sent off.

Ireland, who have not qualified for a major tournament in a decade and last reached a World Cup in 2002, needed at least a draw to keep their qualification hopes alive and a first half Troy Parrott double capped their best performance in years.

They still need a win in Budapest on Nov 16 to claim a spot in the March 2026 playoffs after second-placed Hungary won 1-0 in Armenia.

A draw at home to bottom-placed Armenia is likely the most Portugal need to secure automatic qualification.

But they will have to do it without Ronaldo, whose initial yellow card for lashing out with an elbow to the back of Ireland defender Dara O’Shea was upgraded after review to his first ever red card for Portugal in his 226th appearance.

Portugal, who were moments away from securing their seventh successive World Cup appearance a month ago before a stoppage-time Hungarian equaliser in Lisbon, fell behind on 17 minutes after Liam Scales headed a fizzed-in corner back across goal and Parrott could not miss.

Well worth the lead, Ireland went inches from doubling it when Chiedozie Ogbene struck the post with a fine effort before in-form AZ Alkmaar striker Parrott found the bottom corner with a brilliant finish from similar distance just before the break.

Ireland, who defended gallantly in the reverse fixture before going down to a late goal, did not require a repeat once Ronaldo received his marching orders on the hour, sarcastically clapping the delighted home fans as he departed.

Portugal, who are assured at least a playoff spot, are two points clear of Hungary at the top of Group F with a superior goal difference. The Irish are one point further back.

Norway on brink

Alexander Sorloth and Erling Haaland both scored twice as Norway claimed a 4-1 home win over Estonia which put them on the brink of qualifying for the World Cup for the first time since 1998.

Norway went into the match holding a six-point lead over second-placed Italy, who later beat Moldova 2-0, in Group I.

Norway endured a tense first half as a disciplined Estonia shut down every channel, forcing the hosts into slow, predictable play and even drawing boos at the interval.

Sorloth broke the deadlock shortly after the restart as he scored twice in two minutes before Haaland added two more as Estonia collapsed.

Robi Saarma pulled one back for the visitors in the 64th minute but by then Norway had taken a tight grip of the match. REUTERS