France Host Ivory Coast in Nantes Ahead of 2026 World Cup

France will host Ivory Coast on Thursday 4 June at 21:10 in Nantes' Stade de la Beaujoire. The friendly marks the first step in France's 2026 World Cup preparation. Didier Deschamps will select a starting eleven that differs from the squad expected to begin the tournament. The lineup will still allow assessment of the French squad's current fitness. The match against the Elephants provides an early gauge of France's form ahead of the World Cup. Players will have the chance to showcase their readiness. The Stade de la Beaujoire in Nantes will host the match. The encounter is classified as a friendly. After the Nantes fixture, France will schedule additional matches to fine‑tune the squad before the 2026 tournament. Deschamps will use the results to shape the final World Cup roster.