France is experiencing the road to the 2026 World Cup with intensity. This Friday, France will face Azerbaijan at Parc des Princes for the third matchday of Group D in the European Qualifiers, aiming to take a decisive step toward qualification. Didier Deschamps's team leads its group with six points and breathes an air of confidence that is reflected in every statement.
Prior to the match, William Saliba, Arsenal's defender and one of the stars of the new "Bleus" era, made it clear that the team is thinking big. "We're not afraid of Argentina or Spain," he stated without hesitation when asked about the powerhouses currently dominating international soccer. For the defender, French ambition is not limited to qualifying: "I'm already expecting us to do it and to get our revenge at the World Cup."
The defender described how the national team keeps the World Cup in mind every day during training camp. "We talk about it at the table and outside. It's the most beautiful competition in soccer, it will be played in the United States... We're eager to qualify and be there. There's nothing more beautiful than the World Cup," he said, reflecting the group's motivation.
