World Cup 2026: Ivory Coast stun France with 2-1 comeback victory in friendly

Ivory Coast boosted confidence ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup with an impressive 2-1 comeback victory over France on Thursday night, handing the former world champions a defeat in front of their home supporters at Stade de la Beaujoire.

The Elephants recovered from an early setback to claim a memorable win as both nations continued their preparations for the tournament in the United States, Canada and Mexico.

France Strike First

The home side took the lead just before halftime through highly rated attacker Rayan Cherki, who found the back of the net in the 45th minute to give France a deserved advantage.

France appeared in control heading into the break, with several key players involved, including captain Kylian Mbappé, who started the match.

However, the second half told a different story as Ivory Coast responded strongly.

Elephants Produce Impressive Comeback

The African side levelled the score in the 53rd minute when Guila Doi capitalised on a promising attack to bring the visitors back into the contest.

With momentum swinging in their favour, Ivory Coast continued to push forward and were rewarded six minutes from the end of normal time when Amad Diallo scored the winning goal to complete the turnaround.

The victory provided another encouraging sign for the Elephants ahead of the World Cup, demonstrating their ability to compete against one of the world’s leading football nations.

Mbappé Makes Limited Impact

France captain Kylian Mbappé was included in the starting lineup but was unable to influence proceedings significantly. The star forward was substituted at halftime, ending his involvement after 45 minutes.

His departure coincided with a much-improved display from Ivory Coast, who took control of the contest after the interval.

Attention Turns to World Cup Challenge

Both teams are now focused on their upcoming World Cup campaigns.

France have been drawn in Group I alongside Iraq, Senegal and Norway, while Ivory Coast will compete in Group E against Germany, Ecuador and Curaçao.

With the tournament fast approaching, Ivory Coast will take plenty of confidence from their victory, while France will be eager to respond positively before the competition gets underway.