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Guela Doué scored a goal and set up the winning goal as Ivory Coast stunned France – and Doué’s brother in the French dugout – with a 2-1 victory in a World Cup warm-up match on Thursday.
Amad Diallo fired in Doué’s low cross from the right six minutes from time at the Stade de la Beaujoire in Nantes.
Rayan Cherki gave France the lead in the final minute of the first half by leaving two defenders behind and beating goalkeeper Yahia Fofana with a low shot.
Fofana was frequently in action, saving chances from Kylian Mbappé, Michael Olise and Cherki again.
But Doué – whose brother Désiré Doué plays for France – received a through ball from
Nicolas Pépé will equalize eight minutes into the second half.
It was a return to cinematic roots for the current manager and former Ivory Coast player, Emerse Faé, born in Nantes.
Deschamps is one of only three men to have won the FIFA World Cup, both as a player, captaining France in 1998, and as a coach in 2018. (Photo by Loic VENANCE / AFP via Getty Images)
Many supporters held up posters with a photo of Didier Deschamps to thank the coach for a successful reign which began in 2012 and saw France win the 2018 World Cup and reach the 2022 final and which will end after this edition.
Deschamps had on the bench all six players involved in the Champions League final – Ousmane Dembélé, Bradley Barcola, Warren Zaire-Emery, Désiré Doué, Lucas Hernandez and William Saliba. He used Hernandez, Zaire-Emery and Barcola as substitutes in the second half.
France will play one more warm-up – against Northern Ireland on Monday in Lille – before traveling to the United States.
France opens its campaign against Senegal on June 16 in New Jersey.
Ivory Coast will meet Ecuador in their opening match in Philadelphia on June 14.
Spain held in check against Iraq
Iraq responded to an early Spain goal, lacking star strikers Lamine Yamal and Nico Williams, and held on for a 1-1 draw at the Riazor stadium in La Coruna, northern Spain, June 4, 2026. (Photo by Ander Gillenea/AFP via Getty Images)
Spain, another World Cup favorite, was held to a 1-1 draw at home by Iraq in La Coruna.
Playing without forwards Lamine Yamal and Nico Williams, Spain took a 1-0 lead in the 16th minute thanks to Ferran Torres’ goal.
Merchas Doski’s left-footed strike from just outside the box beat goalkeeper Joan Garcia to equalize before the half-hour mark.
Spain coach Luis de la Fuente said he expects Yamal to be fit to face Cape Verde in the team’s World Cup opener in Atlanta on June 15.
De la Fuente rested David Raya, Martin Zubimendi and Fabián Ruiz, who all featured in the Champions League final. Mikel Merino, recently injured, came into play.
Spain must play another tune-up match, against Peru, in Mexico, on Monday.
Iraq will meet Norway in their World Cup opener in Massachusetts on June 16.
