Ivory Coast Upset France in World Cup Warm‑up as Spain Held to Draw by Iraq

Ivory Coast defeated France 2‑1 in a friendly in Nantes ahead of the 2026 World Cup. France opened the scoring through Rayan Cherki, but Guela Doué equalised and Amad Diallo scored the winner in the 84th minute. French midfielder Aurelien Tchouameni said, “It’s a pity to lose, but we’re in a preparation phase; we stay confident.” Coach Didier Deschamps called the loss a reminder, adding, “A defeat is never pleasant, but it can be a useful warning.”

In another pre‑tournament match, Spain were held to a 1‑1 draw by Iraq. Ferran Torres gave Spain the lead, while Merchas Doski equalised for Iraq. The games highlighted that both European favourites showed vulnerability in their final preparations.

FIFA also announced a ban on water bottles at all World Cup venues, citing security concerns.