France and Ivory Coast set for June 4 friendly ahead of World Cup

France will face Ivory Coast in a low‑stakes friendly on 4 June 2026 as part of their final preparation for the upcoming World Cup. France arrives after a 3‑1 win over Belgium and a 2‑2 draw with Portugal, and head coach Didier Deschamps plans to rotate the squad, resting stars such as Kylian Mbappé and Antoine Griezmann while testing depth in midfield and defence.

Ivory Coast comes into the match in good form, having beaten Mali 2‑0 and drawn 1‑1 with Senegal, and reports no significant injuries. The Ivorian side is noted for its physicality and strong midfield play, which could challenge France’s usual high‑press, possession‑based style, especially as the French lineup will be less cohesive.

Betting markets may overvalue France, offering potential value on the Ivory Coast (+1.5 Asian handicap), under‑3.5‑goal totals and both‑teams‑to‑score options. The match is expected to be competitive and physically intense rather than a one‑sided exhibition.