why the date of the France-Ukraine match cannot be changed

The French Football Federation also regrets the choice of this 2026 World Cup qualifying match, but it is UEFA who decides.

H-1 before France-Ukraine, Thursday 13 November. The Blues have a chance of punching their ticket to the 2026 World Cup, but they would do well without playing on November 13, let alone ten years after the 2015 attack, which started at the Stade de France and continued on the streets of Paris.

National coach Didier Deschamps is still remembered on the night of November 13 2015. Ten years later, it would be nice to have him back on the bench to lead the Blues, this time at the Parc des Princes. “Sensitive question, react coach, deep in my heart, if we can avoid playing in this round of 13 November should be good.”

The French Football Federation (FFF) also regretted the date, but they did not say anything, it was UEFA, the European body, who decided. In fairness, both group games had to be played on the same day and the international calendar was so tight, the France-Ukraine meeting was impossible to postpone.

The symbolic date, Ukraine’s opponents and the international context mean that if they qualify for the world championships, France will have to celebrate with restraint, which is also not in keeping with the FFF.

Finally, the match was classified 2/5 by DNLH, the national directorate for combating hooliganism. Law enforcement will be mobilized as in every match, but not excessively, as there is no history with Ukrainian fans.