Mansion Sports – Football fans have reason to celebrate as France aims to secure their third consecutive victory in the 2026 FIFA World Cup European Qualifiers, hosting Azerbaijan at the iconic Parc des Princes in Paris. The match is scheduled to kick off on Friday, 10 October 2025, at 20:45 local time. 

With France leading Group D and Azerbaijan sitting at the bottom, this encounter promises to deliver exciting football action.

Before the match unfolds, Mansion Sports provides a detailed preview of the predicted lineups for France vs Azerbaijan.

Team Conditions Ahead of the Match

France: Seeking a Third Straight Win

France has not been flawless in their opening qualifiers, but Les Bleus have managed two crucial victories.

They defeated Ukraine 2-0 and then overcame Iceland 2-1, despite initially falling behind to a goal from Andri Gudjohnsen. 

Kylian Mbappe and Bradley Barcola turned the game around, securing all three points. With six points from two matches, France currently occupies the top position in Group D.

As two-time World Cup winners (1998 and 2018) and runners-up in 2022, France is once again a favorite to claim the title in the next tournament. 

Failing to qualify would be a significant shock, last occurring in 1994. Historically, France has faced Azerbaijan only twice during the Euro 1996 qualifiers, winning convincingly with scores of 2-0 and 10-0.

Azerbaijan: Struggling at the Bottom

Azerbaijan began their 2026 World Cup qualifying campaign with a heavy 0-5 defeat to Iceland on 5 September, but they managed a 1-1 draw against Ukraine four days later. 

With one point from two matches, Azerbaijan sits at the bottom of Group D, trailing Iceland by two points and France by five.

Aykhan Abbasov, manager of Samaxi FK, has taken over Azerbaijan on an interim basis following the resignation of Fernando Santos earlier this month. 

Under Santos, Azerbaijan lost nine out of eleven matches and has not secured a victory since a friendly win over Kazakhstan in June 2025.

Despite the challenging group dynamics, a positive result against Ukraine on 13 October could provide a morale boost ahead of their two matches in November.

Group D Standings Before the Match

Predicted Lineups: France vs Azerbaijan

France (4-2-3-1)

France will be without Aurelien Tchouameni, who is suspended after receiving a red card against Iceland. 

Additionally, Bradley Barcola, Marcus Thuram, and Ousmane Dembele are sidelined due to injury, requiring Didier Deschamps to make several adjustments to the starting XI. 

Adrien Rabiot is likely to anchor the midfield, while Mbappe and Michael Olise will be supported by Kingsley Coman and Hugo Ekitike in attack.

• Goalkeeper: Maignan
• Defenders: Kounde, Saliba, Upamecano, T. Hernandez
• Midfielders: Rabiot, Kone
• Attacking Midfielders: Coman, Olise, Ekitike
• Forward: Mbappe
• Head Coach: Didier Deschamps

Azerbaijan (5-3-2)

Azerbaijan is expected to deploy a similar formation to their previous match. Renat Dadashov and Mahir Emreli, who have collectively scored ten goals for the national team, are anticipated to lead the attack. 

Emin Mahmudov, the team’s top scorer, will earn his 55th cap, and Anatolii Nuriiev may also start. Azerbaijan will likely field five defenders, with Rahman Dashdamirov positioned at right-back.

• Goalkeeper: Mahammadaliyev
• Defenders: Dashdamirov, Badalov, Mustafazada, Krivotsyuk, Aliyev
• Midfielders: Khaybulaev, Mahmudov, Nuriiev
• Forwards: Emreli, Dadashov
• Head Coach: Fernando Santos

This match represents an important opportunity for France to assert their dominance in Group D, while Azerbaijan faces the challenge of attempting to secure points against a superior opponent. 

Football enthusiasts can expect an engaging contest as Les Bleus seek to maintain a perfect record in this qualifying campaign.