France continue preparations for the 2026 FIFA World Cup when they host Ivory Coast in an international friendly at the Stade de la Beaujoire in Nantes on Thursday night. Didier Deschamps’s side head into the tournament as one of the favourites after an impressive unbeaten qualifying campaign and a strong run of recent results against top opposition.
Les Bleus have won eight of their last nine international matches, scoring at least two goals in each outing, including friendly victories over Brazil and Colombia during the March international break. France are aiming to become only the third nation in football history to reach three consecutive World Cup finals after appearances in 2018 and 2022.
Deschamps, who is expected to step down after the tournament, has assembled another star-studded squad led by Kylian Mbappe, who sits one goal away from matching Olivier Giroud’s all-time France scoring record. However, Arsenal defender William Saliba is expected to miss the match after aggravating a back injury during the UEFA Champions League final.
Ivory Coast, meanwhile, return to the World Cup after missing the previous two editions and arrive in France full of confidence following a dominant qualifying campaign that saw them score 25 goals without conceding.
The Elephants also impressed in recent friendlies, defeating South Korea 4-0 before edging Scotland 1-0 in March with the national football team having officially released their final squad for the 2026 FIFA World Cup. Their football team X account went ahead to share posts about their final training session before departing for Nantes, France, as part of 2026 World Cup preparations.
Head coach Emerse Fae has transformed Ivory Coast into one of Africa’s most consistent sides, winning 21 of his 31 matches in charge. Thursday’s encounter offers the Elephants an opportunity to test themselves against one of world football’s elite nations before beginning their World Cup journey later this month.
Team News
France are expected to be without William Saliba due to a back injury, while several PSG players could be rested following their Champions League triumph. Kylian Mbappe is available and chasing the national team scoring record.
Ibrahima Konate could step in for Saliba and start at centre-back, while N’Golo Kante, the oldest member of Deschamps’s squad is a contender to start in centre-midfield.
Ivory Coast will miss injured defender Clement Akpa, with Christopher Operi replacing him in the squad. Nicolas Pepe and Yan Diomande are both expected to play key attacking roles.
Possible Lineups
France possible starting lineup:
Maignan; Kounde, Konate, Upamecano, Digne; Kante, Tchouameni; Olise, Cherki, Mbappe; Thuram
Ivory Coast possible starting lineup:
Y. Fofana; Doue, Kossounou, Diomande, Konan; Sangare, Kessie, S. Fofana; Pepe, Wahi, Diomande
How to Watch
| Platform | Details |
|---|---|
| TV Broadcast | beIN SPORTS |
| Live Stream | DSTV Stream |
| Kick-off Time | 20:10 (WAT) |
Match Prediction
Softfootball predicts France 3-1 Ivory Coast
France are expected to control possession and create the better chances with their world-class attacking quality, but Ivory Coast have shown enough discipline and pace on the counter-attack to trouble Les Bleus throughout the contest. Deschamps’s side should ultimately have too much firepower and experience, especially playing at home in front of their supporters.
