France are travelling to Baku aiming to close out their 2026 World Cup qualifying campaign without a loss. They’re riding high after a convincing win over Ukraine. Still firmly in control of their group, Les Bleus will look to reaffirm their dominance in a tough away fixture.
On the other hand, Azerbaijan are arriving at a bleak juncture. Already rooted to the bottom of their section, the hosts have just one point in qualifying after a long stretch of poor results. They will face a strong French side on Sunday with very little to play for.
Hugo Ekitike scores his first goal for Les Bleus on his 5th appearance 🔥👏 pic.twitter.com/ANtZqhosbM
— French Team ⭐⭐ (@FrenchTeam) November 15, 2025
| Bets | Status | Moneyline |
| Total Goals | Over 3.5 | -118 |
| Total Shots | Over 26.5 | -163 |
| Total Shots on Target | Over 9.5 | -150 |
| Total Corners | Under 8.5 | +120 |
| Total Cards | Under 2.5 | -225 |
| Azerbaijan Goalkeeper Saves | Over 5.5 | +120 |
| France Goalkeeper Saves | Over 1.5 | +130 |
The home side continue to struggle. They’ve failed to win in their last fourteen matches. It has been a run that includes both qualifiers and friendlies. Their hopes of improving their standing ended with a narrow loss to Iceland.
It left them at the bottom of their group table in the qualifiers. Coach Aykhan Abbasov is expected to reshuffle the attack. Tural Bayramov and Khayal Aliyev could be replaced by Rustam Akhmedzade as they search for a spark in this tough fixture.
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France have already secured qualification for the 2026 World Cup. Now, they are looking to finish their campaign unbeaten. Their recent performance featured a dominant 4-0 win against Ukraine. Goals came from Mbappe, Ekitike and Olise.
N’Golo Kante has returned to the squad after strong form domestically. Meanwhile, their ace Mbappe and midfielder Eduardo Camavinga have been sent back to his club due to respective knee and thigh issues. Kouadio Kone is also set to miss this match following a yellow-card suspension.
France are entering this match as overwhelming favorites. Their attacking potency makes the over 3.5 goals line compelling. In their 4-0 win against Ukraine, they showed ruthless efficiency. They found multiple goals through different outlets – a brace through Mbappe with goals from Ekitike and Olise.
France have also routinely scored multiple goals per match through their dynamic attackers in this qualifying cycle. Meanwhile, Azerbaijan have struggled defensively and are lacking cutting edge in the final third. Given the gulf in class, it’s realistic to expect France to dominate and score freely. Thus, pushing the total goals well over 3.5.
Hugo Ekitike is an especially attractive option to score in this match. The Liverpool forward netted his first senior goal for France in their 4-0 rout against Ukraine. He capped the win with a smart finish after a fast counter. That strike was the result of a lively solo run and a quick one-two with Mbappe.
He showed that he can both create and finish opportunities. With Mbappe injured and sent back to Madrid, and Ekitike already having made an impact off the bench, he may be given an expanded role. This makes the anytime scorer bet a strong value.
Michael Olise has quietly become a key creative spark for France. He opened the scoring in an earlier qualifier, scoring in his first campaign appearance for Les Bleus. His technical skill, vision, and capacity to link midfield to attack make him a constant threat.
It doesn’t only make him a finisher, but also a provider. Given France’s fluid attacking setup and Olise’s freedom, backing him to either score or assist makes the betting -230 in this match justified.
| Picks | Moneyline |
| Hugo Ekitike to score first | +300 |
| Jean-Philippe Mateta to score anytime | -260 |
| Michael Olise to assist anytime | -105 |
| Bradley Barcola to either score or assist | -195 |
| Toral Bayramov to see a card | +205 |
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Azerbaijan’s confidence and form are at rock bottom and they remain defensively fragile. Their nearly 14-match winless run and inability to score consistently put them in a very difficult place. Meanwhile, France are firing on all cylinders. They crushed Ukraine 4-0 and have depth across attack and midfield.
Taking into account France’s clinical finishing and Azerbaijan’s defensive vulnerabilities, a 0-4 win for the visitors seems very plausible.
The Azerbaijan vs France UEFA World Cup qualifiers clash is on November 16, 2025, at the Tofig Bahramov Republican Stadium, Baku, Azerbaijan.
France are favorites to win with a moneyline at -900, to draw at +875 and for Azerbaijan to win at +2500.
Hugo Ekitike to score anytime: -145
Michael Olise to assist anytime: -110
Bradley Barcola to either score or assist: -133
soccer Football writer at The Playoffs. I’ve been obsessed with the beautiful game since I was a kid.. Eventually, I realized I could combine my passion for writing with my love for football, and I’ve never looked back. My favorite part of the job is everything—when you’re doing what you love, even a late-night deadline feels like extra time in a thrilling cup final. Lastly, Lionel Messi is the GOAT.
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