France Ends World Cup Warm-Ups With 3-1 Win Over Northern Ireland

France rounded off their preparations for the 2026 FIFA World Cup with a decisive 3-1 friendly win against Northern Ireland, with winger Michael Olise netting all three goals. This victory provided a much-needed confidence boost after a surprising 2-1 defeat to Ivory Coast in their preceding warm-up match.

The match saw France deploy a strong attacking lineup, featuring Kylian Mbappe, Desire Doue, Ousmane Dembele, and Olise. However, Northern Ireland's disciplined defense proved challenging for much of the first half. Despite dominating possession, France struggled to create clear scoring opportunities until the stroke of halftime.

Michael Olise broke the deadlock in the 43rd minute, capitalizing on a deflected ball inside the penalty area. He doubled France's lead just after the restart in the 49th minute with another close-range finish. Northern Ireland managed to pull a goal back in the 64th minute through Patrick Kelly, but Olise completed his hat-trick in the 75th minute, securing the comfortable victory for France.

Olise's stellar performance was the highlight of the match, earning him widespread praise as the standout player. The win ensures France enters the World Cup on a positive note. They are set to begin their Group I campaign against Senegal on June 23, with further matches against Iraq and Norway scheduled for June 26.