Coupe de France 7th Round Draw Sets Exciting Matchups Across French Football

The 7th round of the 2026 Coupe de France is scheduled for the weekend of November 14-15, promising a series of thrilling encounters and notable storylines throughout the French football landscape. Key matchups include the much-anticipated derby between Paris 13 Atletico and Red Star in the Île-de-France region, along with fixtures featuring Ligue 2 and Ligue 3 clubs such as Versailles vs Rodez and Dijon vs Orléans. Additionally, Saint-Etienne, the Ligue 2 leader, faces a challenging tie against National division club Rumilly-Vallières, which has a strong cup pedigree, having reached the semifinals in 2021. Bernard Vellut, president of Rumilly-Vallières, expressed excitement, calling the event "a big celebration in the region." Meanwhile, the AS Violaines club, the smallest in the competition, will host Vermelles from a higher tier, exemplifying the cup’s inclusive spirit.

A particularly emotive fixture will see Saint-Dié Kellermann face FC Metz. This match carries extra significance due to Kalidou Koulibaly’s personal ties to both teams; Koulibaly, currently at Al-Hilal, was born and trained at Saint-Dié. The partnership between Metz and Saint-Dié has been strong in recent years, with several players, including Wassim Bahri now in Belgium, moving through the ranks. Organizers are addressing logistical and safety concerns to host the encounter at Saint-Dié’s Émile-Jeanpierre stadium, with SRDK president Mohamadou Ndiaye hopeful despite acknowledging the team’s slim 10-15% chance of advancing. He emphasized the festive atmosphere and recent successes surrounding the club.

Elsewhere, Dordogne clubs Boulazac and Trélissac face lower division opponents, which positions them as favorites to progress. Boulazac will play Genêts d’Anglet in a historic first 7th round appearance, having never achieved a win at this stage before. Trélissac faces FC 2 Rives 82 and aims to improve on last season’s cup performance. Both clubs remain optimistic yet grounded, with Trélissac’s coach Mohamed Akki focusing on league commitments first.

The draw also involves overseas teams, with Combani from Mayotte and Horizon Patho from New Caledonia traveling to mainland France, highlighting the Coupe de France’s nationwide and international reach. Potential 8th round fixtures involving Ligue 2 clubs Laval-Guingamp and Metz-Sochaux add further intrigue to the competition’s progression.

Overall, the 7th round sets the stage for memorable matches characterized by regional derbies, club partnerships, and underdog stories, all underpinning the unique allure of the Coupe de France this season.