France loses 2-1 to Côte d'Ivoire in pre‑World Cup friendly
On 4 June 2026, France played a warm‑up match against Côte d'Ivoire at the Stade de la Beaujoire in Nantes. Rayan Cherki gave the hosts a 1‑0 lead before halftime, but Guéla Doué equalised for the African side in the 53rd minute. Amad Diallo scored the winner in the 84th minute, handing Côte d'Ivoire a 2‑1 victory.
Both teams used the game to fine‑tune tactics ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup. France, coached by Didier Deschamps, continued to adjust its lineup after defender William Saliba’s injury, with Ibrahima Konaté moving into the back line. Côte d'Ivoire, led by manager Emerse Faé, focused on maintaining confidence and rhythm ahead of its World Cup debut, where it will face Ecuador on 14 June. Ecuadorian defender Willian Pacho praised the Ivorian win, saying it boosts the team's confidence.
The match served as a final test before the tournament, with France set to open its World Cup campaign on 16 June against Senegal in New Jersey.