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Guela Doué scored a goal and set up the winning goal as Ivory Coast surprised France (and Doué’s brother on the French bench) with a 2-1 victory in a World Cup warm-up match on Thursday.
Amad Diallo headed in Doué’s low cross from the right with six minutes remaining at the Stade de la Beaujoire in Nantes.
Rayan Cherki had put France ahead in the final minute of the first half when he outran two defenders and beat goalkeeper Yahia Fofana with a low shot.
Fofana was frequently in action, saving chances from Kylian Mbappé, Michael Olise and again Cherki.
But Doué, whose brother Désiré Doué plays for France, received a through ball from
Nicolas Pépé equalized eight minutes into the second half.
It was a cinematic comeback for current Ivory Coast coach and former player Emerse Faé, born in Nantes.
Deschamps is one of only three men to win the FIFA World Cup as a player, captaining France in 1998, and as a coach in 2018. (Photo by Loic VENANCE/AFP via Getty Images)
Many fans waved signs with a photo of Didier Deschamps to thank the coach for a successful reign that began in 2012 and saw France win the 2018 World Cup and reach the 2022 final and which will come to an end after this edition.
Deschamps had all six players involved in the Champions League final (Ousmane Dembélé, Bradley Barcola, Warren Zaire-Emery, Désiré Doué, Lucas Hernandez and William Saliba) on the bench. He used Hernández, Zaire-Emery and Barcola as substitutes in the second half.
France will play one more warm-up match, 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 face Ecuador in their first match in Philadelphia on June 14.
Spain draws against Iraq
Iraq responded to an early goal from Spain, which was without star forwards Lamine Yamal and Nico Williams, and held on to draw 1-1 at the Riazor stadium in A Coruña, northern Spain, on June 4, 2026. (Photo by Ander Gillenea/AFP via Getty Images)
Spain, another World Cup favorite, drew 1-1 at home against Iraq in La Coruña.
Playing without forwards Lamine Yamal and Nico Williams, Spain took a 1-0 lead in the 16th minute with Ferran Torres’ goal.
A left-footed shot by Merchas Doski from outside the area beat goalkeeper Joan García and tied the score before half an hour.
Spain coach Luis de la Fuente said he hopes Yamal will be fit to face Cape Verde in the team’s World Cup opener in Atlanta on June 15.
De la Fuente rested David Raya, Martín Zubimendi and Fabián Ruiz, who participated in the Champions League final. Mikel Merino, recently injured, came on as a substitute.
Spain is scheduled to play one more warm-up match: against Peru in Mexico on Monday.
Iraq will face Norway in their World Cup opener in Massachusetts on June 16.
