France vs Northern Ireland: Deschamps' final home match before World Cup

On Monday 8 June 2026, France will host Northern Ireland at the Stade Pierre‑Mauroy in Lille for their last pre‑World Cup friendly. The match serves as the final warm‑up before the French squad departs for the 2026 World Cup in the United States. It also marks head coach Didier Deschamps' last game on French soil after more than a decade in charge, with the expectation that he will step down after the tournament.

France entered the friendly after a 2‑1 loss to Ivory Coast in Paris, a rare defeat in a home preparation match. The squad will feature returning players such as Ousmane Dembélé, Désiré Doué and Kylian Mbappé, while the coaching staff may fine‑tune the lineup for the World Cup. Betting markets heavily favour France, with odds of 1/8 to win.

Northern Ireland, absent from the World Cup, use the game to regain confidence following a recent 1‑0 win over Guinea. The fixture is the first meeting of the two sides since 1999.

Travel for the French team sparked criticism after they flew from Paris to Lille, covering 274 km in a short‑haul flight rather than the more sustainable train option. The French Football Federation had previously pledged to prioritize rail for trips under three hours, a promise that was later reversed on security grounds.