France to Face Côte d'Ivoire in Nantes Friendly Ahead of 2026 World Cup

The French national football team will play a friendly match against Côte d'Ivoire on June 4, 2026, at the Beaujoire stadium in Nantes as part of their preparation for the upcoming World Cup. This encounter marks a significant warm-up for France, who will open their World Cup campaign on June 16 against Senegal in New York.

The match against Côte d'Ivoire, ranked 35th by FIFA, is particularly notable as the Ivorians have never defeated France in their three previous friendly encounters, the most recent being a 2-1 French victory in 2022. This game will also be the penultimate match coached by Didier Deschamps on French soil before the World Cup, underscoring its importance.

A second friendly fixture is planned for June 8 in Lille, although the opponent has yet to be announced, pending European playoff results. The president of the French Football Federation, Philippe Diallo, highlighted the friendly nature of the clash with Côte d'Ivoire, emphasizing the close ties and cooperation between the French and Ivorian football federations, including recent collaborative events like the women’s league cup final.

This preparation phase is crucial as France looks to fine-tune its squad and strategy ahead of the global tournament, where they are placed in a challenging group alongside Senegal. The friendly against Côte d'Ivoire offers a valuable test against a World Cup-qualified side, aiming to sharpen the Blues for the international stage.