France vs Ukraine Prediction: Les Bleus to get the job done

France will be looking to book their place at the 2026 Fifa World Cup next summer when they host Ukraine at Parc des Princes in their penultimate qualifier on Thursday (19:45 GMT, Prime Video). Les Bleus have reached the final in the past two editions of the showpiece, so they will have lofty ambitions should they secure qualification.

Below you will find my France vs Ukraine predictions, accompanied by the latest team news and match odds.

Team News

France and Paris Saint-Germain duo Desire Doue and Ousmane Dembele have been blighted by injury issues since the beginning of the 2025/26 season, and the pair are absent due to calf and thigh problems respectively.

Didier Deschamps' forward options have been further depleted with Randal Kolo Muani pulling out from the squad following a jaw injury picked up in Tottenham Hotspur's recent Premier League clash with Manchester United.

With Adrien Rabiot and Aurelien Tchouameni also absent, the door has opened for N'Golo Kante to return to the international scene, with the 2018 World Cup winner impressing out in Saudi Arabia.

Football Odds

Roma striker Artem Dovbyk is out of this month's matches for Ukraine because of a hip injury sustained last weekend against Udinese. Volodymyr Brazhko will sit out of November's action owing to physical discomfort.

Today's Football Fixtures

France vs Ukraine Odds

France have won three of their four qualifiers so far. Les Bleus have kept six clean sheets in their past eight home games and they are 4/6 (implied probability of 60%) to win to nil - which was also the case in the reverse fixture against Ukraine.

The draw is marketed at 13/2, with both teams having drawn a game apiece in Group D thus far. Ukraine are 18/1 to come away with the three points, and they have won their previous two qualifiers.

To Win To Nil - France @ 4/6

France know that a win here will secure their place at the World Cup finals next summer and given how strong they have been on home soil they have been of late, I am backing them to get the job done.

Seeing as their odds in the generic match result market are not particularly enticing, I am backing Deschamps' men to triumph with a clean sheet. This was the outcome when they defeated Ukraine 2-0 in Wroclaw back in September, and I am more confident of them securing a similar result in Paris.

Six clean sheets in eight at home is a record and trend that you simply cannot ignore.

First Goalscorer - Kylian Mbappe @ 9/4

The hosts may be having to miss two of their best attacking talents in Dembele and Doue but they still have their main man, Kylian Mbappe, who has been the face of Les Bleus for several years now, is fit and firing.

The Real Madrid forward has been in good form during this qualifying campaign, scoring in each of his three appearances to date. It seems only right to back him to find the back of the net in the game that can book France's place at the World Cup finals on Thursday night.

But I am going bold here, backing the attacker to open the scoring at 9/4, rather than strike anytime at 8/13.

Football - 2 Up Early Payout

Pre-Match bets on the 2 Up Early Payout market in selected games. Paid as a winner within 5 minutes if your team goes 2 goals ahead. Selected leagues only. 90 mins only. T&Cs Apply.

Sports Welcome Offer

New customers only. Deposit via Debit Card & place first bet £10+ (1/1+) on Sports in 7 days. £30 Sports & £20 Acca Free Bets within 10 hrs of settlement. 7-day expiry. Eligibility, payment excl. & T&Cs Apply.

You can read all our latest Football Betting Tips at our dedicated Betfred Insights content hub.