France Hosts Côte d’Ivoire in World Cup Warm-Up | OneFootball

France hosts Côte d’Ivoire in a friendly match at Nantes’ Stade de la Beaujoire, a fixture far from insignificant for either side. It is the 11th time the French national team has played in Nantes, and the fourth meeting in their shared history.

Behind the fixture are two national teams heading to the same destination in a few days: the World Cup, which starts on June 11.

This match takes place in a particular context for both sides. France has just announced its 26-man squad, with Didier Deschamps confirming that this 2026 World Cup will be the last of his era, which began in 2012. For him, it is a test before heading to Boston.

Côte d’Ivoire, for its part, arrives with a defense weakened by several injuries and the ambition to go beyond the group stage for the first time in its World Cup history.

French Football Federation President Philippe Diallo noted that Deschamps and Emerse Fae, Côte d’Ivoire manager, were both trained at FC Nantes. This friendly match almost has the air of a family reunion.

France vs. Côte d’Ivoire

Kickoff: 3:10 pm ET/12:10 pm PTStade de la Beaujoire, NantesWatch on Fox Soccer Plus, fuboTV, ViX and FOX One

France approaches this final stretch with the serenity of a team that qualified long ago, ranked first in the FIFA rankings (according to FFF data at the time of the squad announcement), and assured of being among the big favorites for the WC. Opta gives them a 12.98% chance of winning the title, behind Spain, after 10,000 simulations.

France secured its World Cup ticket last November with a resounding victory over Ukraine (4-0) at the Parc des Princes, with goals from Mbappé (brace), Olise, and Ekitiké. The group built around Mbappé, Michael Olise, Ousmane Dembélé, Desiré Doué, and Marcus Thuram is one of the most offensively gifted in the national team’s recent history.

Ivorian Path

On the Ivorian side, the qualifying record deserves detail. The Elephants went through their 10 qualifying matches without conceding a single goal. A remarkable defensive rigor, even if 16 of the 25 goals scored came in the two matches against Seychelles. In competitive matches, the average drops to 1.13 goals per match.

Eliminated in the quarterfinals of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations by Egypt (3-2), Fae’s players arrive in Nantes with something to prove. Côte d’Ivoire will play in its fourth World Cup, and reaching the knockout stage for the first time would be a form of consecration. Group E with Germany, Ecuador, and Curacao is not easy.

In terms of recent form, France arrives at this gathering undefeated for more than a year, nine matches without defeat in all competitions, and having scored at least two goals in their last 11 matches. The Elephants have won four of their last five matches, with only one defeat. A positive dynamic for a team that wants to arrive in Philadelphia with confidence.

Team News & Injury Updates

On the French side, some signals to watch before this match. William Saliba has a back injury, and his status for the World Cup is uncertain. Maghnes Akliouche left recent training sessions sick, with a possible hip injury as well. Deschamps should rely on a lineup close to his first-choice team, resting some players given the limited stakes of the match. Robin Risser, the third goalkeeper on the squad but first in his rank in Ligue 1, could well be fielded to make an impression.

France predicted XI: Risser; Kounde, Konate, Upamecano, Digne; Tchouameni, Rabiot; Olise, Cherki; Thuram; Mbappé (c).

The Ivorian situation is more concerning, especially in defense. Clement Akpa is out. Evan Ndicka, injured on May 17 during the derby against Lazio in Rome, should miss this match and hopes to be fit in time for the first World Cup match. Odilon Kossounou, injured in the hamstring against Milan on May 10, is returning but could be rested.

Two top central defenders absent or uncertain for a team that was precisely building its solidity on their complementarity is a real problem 10 days before the World Cup. Emmanuel Agbadou and Ousmane Diomandé will likely have to assume more responsibility than planned.

Côte d’Ivoire predicted XI: Y. Fofana; Singo, Agbadou, Diomande, Konan; Kessie (c), Sangare, S. Fofana; A. Diallo, Bonny, Adingra.

Match prediction: France 2-0 Côte d’Ivoire.