World Cup Favorites France and Spain Stumble in Final Friendlies Ahead of Tournament

Paris, France – The top two ranked teams in men's football, France and Spain, experienced unexpected setbacks just a week before the 2026 FIFA World Cup, losing to lower-ranked opponents in their final warm-up matches.

France, the reigning world champions, were defeated 2-1 by Ivory Coast in Nantes. Randal Kolo Muani had put France ahead in the 45th minute, but Ivory Coast fought back with goals from Ghislain Doué in the 53rd minute and a late winner from Amad Diallo in the 81st minute. Despite Ivory Coast being ranked 33rd in the world, the victory marked their first-ever senior international win against France, ending France's nine-match unbeaten streak.

Meanwhile, Spain could only manage a 1-1 draw against Iraq in A Coruña. Ferran Torres opened the scoring for Spain in the 16th minute, but Iraq equalized through Merchas Doski in the 27th minute. This result follows a pattern of inconsistent performances from Spain in their recent friendlies.

Both teams will now head into the World Cup with questions surrounding their form. France is grouped with Senegal, Iraq, and Norway in Group I, while Spain will face Cape Verde, Saudi Arabia, and Uruguay in Group H. The unexpected results raise concerns about the readiness of these football giants as they prepare to compete on the world stage.