Corinne Diacre scored nine minutes into the second half and France outclassed England, 1-0, Saturday in Saint-Etienne to claim its place in next year's Women's World Cup in China.
The French finished off a 2-0 aggregate victory before more than 23,000 at Geoffroy Guichard Stadium, a national attendance record for women's soccer.
WUSA MVP Marinette Pichon, who scored the goal in the first leg, was France's spark, but Diacre, the French captain, got the 54th-minute goal. England goalkeeper Pauline Cope punched away a shot by Stephanie Mugneret-Beghe, who is expected to play for the Boston Breakers next season, but the ball fell to Diacre, who fired to the bottom-right corner.
France is the eighth nation to qualify for the fourth Women's World Cup, a 16-nation tournament that will kick off next September. Host China, fellow Europeans Germany, Norway, Russia and Sweden, and CONCACAF qualifiers United States and Canada also have advanced.
The remainder of the field will be taken by two nations from Africa, two from Asia, two from South America and one from Oceania, plus the winner of a playoff between Mexico and Asia's No. 3 team.