France will take on Ivory Coast on Thursday evening in Nantes as both teams prepare for the 2026 World Cup. The match at Stade de la Beaujoire serves as a final tune-up before the tournament begins next week.
France enter the fixture as one of the tournament favourites under Didier Deschamps. The team must manage several defensive concerns, including the absence of William Saliba due to a back injury sustained in the Champions League final. Predicted line-ups show Kylian Mbappé starting, one goal away from equaling Olivier Giroud as France’s all-time leading scorer. Rayan Cherki is expected to feature in the number 10 role, while Dayot Upamecano anchors the defence alongside Ibrahima Konaté. Ivory Coast arrive in strong form after recent friendly wins. Emerse Faé’s side will be without Evan Ndicka and Clement Akpa through injury. The match marks only the fourth senior meeting between the nations, with France holding a 2-1-0 historical edge. The game is expected to be a controlled, tactical affair ahead of the trip to North America. A narrow home win is anticipated based on individual quality in the French squad.
