Ivory Coast is set to face France in a high-stake international friendly match as part of preparation for the upcoming 2026 World Cup tournament, to be held in the USA, Canada and Mexico.
Despite no official announcement, an agreement in principle has been reached between both parties for the highly competitive friendly, scheduled for June 4, 2026 in Nantes in western France.
With both nations having already secured qualification for the expanded World Cup, the friendly presents a valuable opportunity to assess squad depth, tactical setups and player combinations ahead of the global showpiece.
Before facing France, the West African football powerhouse has already lined up a crucial friendly against Scotland on March 31, 2026 at the Hill Dickinson Stadium in Liverpool.
For the Elephants, the match forms a key part of their final preparations. Head coach Emerse Fae and his technical team will be keen to use the fixture to build momentum as they gear up for a challenging World Cup group.
Ivory Coast have been drawn in Group E alongside Germany, Ecuador and Curacao, a section that promises intense competition and little margin for error.
As anticipation builds, the friendly against France is expected to attract strong interest from fans and pundits alike, with both teams eager to make a statement in the lead-up to the world’s biggest football event.
