In the final round of Group D matches in the 2026 World Cup qualifiers, France, playing away from home, came back from a goal down to defeat Azerbaijan 3-1 thanks to goals from Mateta and Akliushe.

Four minutes into the match, Dashdamilov received the ball and crossed it into the box, where Dadashov immediately fired a low shot into the net, giving Azerbaijan a 1-0 lead. In the 12th minute, French striker Nkunku received the ball and fired a long-range shot from inside the box, but the ball went wide of the goal.

In the 17th minute, Gusto received a through pass from Akliushe and chipped the ball into the penalty area from the right wing. Mateta leaped up and headed the ball into the net, leveling the score at 1-1 for France. In the 26th minute, France launched an attack. Gusto met the ball and shot, but the ball deflected off Nkunku and into the net. However, after VAR intervention, it was determined that Nkunku had touched the ball with his hand, and the goal was disallowed.

In the 30th minute, Kevren Thuram chipped a pass into the box, Gusto laid it off, and Akliushe fired a low shot into the net, giving France a 2-1 lead over Azerbaijan. In the 42nd minute, Akliushe delivered a cross, and Kevren Thuram put the ball into the net, but after reviewing VAR, the referee ruled that Ekitic had committed a handball foul while challenging for the ball, and therefore the goal was disallowed.

In the 45th minute, Akliushe took a corner kick, and Azerbaijani goalkeeper Mahmadeliev inadvertently deflected the ball into his own net while clearing it in the ensuing scramble, making the score 3-1 for France.

In the 49th minute of the second half, a French corner kick was cleared, and Kevren Thuram, positioned at the edge of the penalty area, received the ball and unleashed a long-range shot, but it went high. In the 52nd minute, France created another attacking opportunity, with Nkunku receiving a through pass from his teammate outside the penalty area and firing a long-range shot, but the ball went over the goal.

In the 61st minute, Theo crossed from the penalty area, and Mateta's close-range low shot went wide of the post. In the 73rd minute, Rajan Serki took a free kick, and Kevren Thuram's shot was cleared.

The score remained unchanged for the remainder of the match, and France ultimately defeated Azerbaijan 3-1 away from home, qualifying for the World Cup finals as the top team in Group D.