Ivory Coast Stuns France 2-1 in Pre-World Cup Friendly

France experienced a stunning 2-1 loss to Ivory Coast in a pre-2026 World Cup friendly, a result that serves as a significant assessment for Didier Deschamps' squad just ten days before the tournament begins.

Despite dominating possession and creating early chances, including a shot from Kylian Mbappé that was blocked by Ivory Coast goalkeeper Yahia Fofana in the 7th minute, France struggled to convert their pressure into goals. Rayan Cherki finally broke the deadlock just before halftime with a precise shot in the 45th minute, giving France a 1-0 lead.

However, Ivory Coast staged a strong comeback in the second half. Guela Doue equalized in the 52nd minute after receiving a through ball from Nicolas Pepe, calmly beating French goalkeeper Mike Maignan. The Elephants then secured a dramatic victory in the 83rd minute when Amad Diallo scored the winning goal, capitalizing on a cutback from Doue. The match concluded with Ivory Coast holding onto their unexpected lead, handing a surprising defeat to one of the World Cup favorites.