Kylian Mbappe scored his tenth consecutive goal across all competitions as France beat Azerbaijan 3-0 on Friday, keeping their perfect record in World Cup qualifying and moving within reach of a place in next year’s finals.
The victory at the Parc des Princes leaves Didier Deschamps’ side on nine points from three Group D matches, five clear of second-placed Ukraine, who defeated Iceland 5-3. France will secure qualification on Monday with a win in Reykjavik if Ukraine fail to overcome Azerbaijan.
Mbappe struck on the stroke of halftime, collecting the ball at the edge of the box before driving a low shot past goalkeeper Shakhruddin Magomedaliyev. The goal extended the captain’s scoring streak to ten matches for club and country, his longest run since 2021, when he found the net in 12 straight appearances.
Liverpool forward Hugo Ekitike made his first international start, coming close to scoring early in the second half when his right-footed drive hit the post. France continued to dominate possession, outshooting Azerbaijan 18-3 and recording 68% of the ball, according to UEFA data.
Adrien Rabiot doubled the advantage in the 68th minute, heading home after Mbappe recycled a corner from the far post. Substitute Florian Thauvin added a third six minutes from time with a sharp turn and volley inside the area.
Deschamps praised his squad’s depth, telling French broadcaster TF1: “We are building consistency and competition in every position. That’s important for the months ahead.”
The win extends France’s unbeaten streak in competitive matches to 14, their longest under Deschamps since a 15-match run between 2018 and 2019. France have scored nine goals and conceded none in the current qualifying campaign, the only European side yet to allow a shot on target in the second half of any match, according to Opta.
The result also strengthens France’s position in the FIFA world rankings, where they currently sit second behind Argentina. A win in Iceland would confirm their qualification with two games to spare, potentially allowing Deschamps to rotate his squad before the final window in November.
Azerbaijan remain bottom of Group D with no points and a goal difference of minus nine. They will host Ukraine on Monday in Baku.
