Coupe de France 2025: 32nd Finals Draw Unveils Key Matchups and Controversies

The draw for the 32nd finals of the 2025 Coupe de France took place on December 1 at the Parc des Princes in Paris, setting the stage for an exciting round of 64 teams scheduled to compete on December 20 and 21. Led by former Portuguese striker Pedro Miguel Pauleta and featuring notable sports personalities such as Frédéric Piquionne, Jade Le Guilly, Jimmy Gressier, and Cléopâtre Darleux, the event revealed a mix of challenging and intriguing matchups across three geographic groups labeled A, B, and C.

Among the standout fixtures, Olympique Lyonnais will play against Saint Cyr Collonges from Regional 1 (R1), while Olympique de Marseille faces Bourg-en-Bresse, a National 1 side. AS Monaco is drawn to compete against Auxerre. In Group B, Lens will confront Feignies Aulnoye (National 2), and Lille is set to meet Saint-Maur Lusitanos (N2). In Group C, Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) has the advantage of facing a National 3 team, Vendée Fontenay, whereas Lorient will play Le Gosier (R1), an overseas club required to play on mainland France. Notably, ten clubs from Regional 1 and 2, including underdog Freyming (R2) and AS Le Gosier, are participating, highlighting the tournament’s inclusivity.

Another keenly anticipated match features Stade Lavallois traveling to face Guingamp, who recently eliminated Ancienne de Château-Gontier. Guingamp, currently placed 7th in Ligue 2, has a recent 2-0 league victory over Laval, making this a tough encounter for Stade Lavallois, ranked 14th. Coach Oliiver Frapolli acknowledged the difficulty of facing a familiar and formidable opponent again.

US Chauvigny, excited to be in the 32nd finals after beating Stade poitevin on penalties (10-9), faces uncertainty about their opponent. Their adversary will be either Montreuil or Granville, pending the resolution of a French Football Federation complaint lodged by Granville. The dispute concerns allegations that Montreuil fielded three suspended players, a decision still awaited as the draw progresses.

The draw underscores the competitive depth and drama of the Coupe de France, setting up an enticing lineup of matches across different league tiers and regions, with the mix of professional and amateur clubs promising notable surprises ahead of the festive season.