Coupe de France Round of 16 Draw Sets Up Exciting Clashes Including Paris FC vs Lorient and OM vs Rennes

The draw for the Coupe de France Round of 16 took place on January 13, 2026, unveiling compelling matchups scheduled for early February. Paris FC will travel to face FC Lorient, a notable fixture following Paris FC’s historic 1-0 upset victory against Paris Saint-Germain. Both clubs have recent competitive history, having vied for promotion to Ligue 1 last season, with Paris FC winning their last direct encounter 2-0 in October 2025.

Among the 16 remaining teams, the competition features mainly professional sides with no amateur clubs participating for the first time since the 1989-1990 season. The draw features ten Ligue 1 clubs alongside Ligue 2 teams, setting up intriguing pairings such as RC Strasbourg vs AS Monaco, Stade de Reims vs Le Mans FC, OGC Nice vs Montpellier HSC, Olympique Lyonnais vs Stade Lavallois, and a potential Olympique de Marseille vs Stade Rennais clash, contingent on Marseille advancing past amateur side Bayeux, whom they defeated 9-0 in the previous round.

Other key fixtures include Toulouse FC facing Amiens SC; Lyon drawing Laval, the lowest-ranked surviving team in the competition; and Ligue 1 leaders Lens facing Ligue 2's Troyes. Montpellier, currently 9th in Ligue 2, will challenge OGC Nice, which is placed 14th in Ligue 1. Their previous meeting resulted in a 2-0 victory for Nice in February 2025.

These matchups promise a mixture of high-stakes battles between top-tier rivals and opportunities for lower-division sides to make deep runs, emphasizing the open and unpredictable nature of the Coupe de France. The games are set to be played on February 3rd or 4th, 2026, with fans anticipating a captivating round that could reshape the tournament’s landscape.

According to Le Parisien, "This round may not feature any amateur clubs for the first time since 1989-1990," highlighting the professional caliber of the remaining sides. L'Équipe noted the intensity of the upcoming fixtures with "three matches between Ligue 1 teams — Strasbourg vs Monaco, Lorient vs Paris FC, and Marseille vs Rennes." France Bleu added, "Montpellier will face OGC Nice on February 4, 2026," confirming the scheduled date for the clash between the mid-table Ligue 2 team and their Ligue 1 opponents.

As the Round of 16 approaches, these fixtures set the stage for some of the fiercest competition yet this season, with triumphs and surprises possible at every turn.