The countdown to the 2026 FIFA World Cup continues as top-ranked France begins their pursuit toward a third consecutive Cup final appearance on Thursday.
France is set to welcome Côte d’Ivoire for the first of two tune-up fixtures before Group I action kicks off for them on June 16 against Senegal, with Iraq and Norway also sitting in the bracket.
Les Bleus and Spain are co-favorites (+500) to capture the Jules Rimet Trophy.
Meanwhile, Ivory Coast prepares for a Group E opening clash with Ecuador on June 14, in a quadrant that features heavyweight Germany and Curacao.
France vs. Ivory Coast prediction, odds
Ivory Coast ranks 34th globally and will participate in its fourth World Cup, the first for the West African nation since 2014. After missing the previous two tournaments, head coach Emerse Fae has done an excellent job revitalizing the team and guiding it back into relevancy.
Fae took over midway through the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations as the head man, and the rest is history. The Frenchman guided Ivory Coast to a remarkable run of four wins to take the tournament.
Defensively, this team is aggressive, and in 10 CAF qualification matches, they haven’t allowed any goals. It begins with Evan N’Dicka, an athletic defender with connections to France, who previously played for the French national team before switching allegiance to Ivory Coast in 2023.
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Nicolas Pepe continues to be a reliable scoring threat for the Elephants, with Amad Diallo and Yan Diomande also contributing to the attack.
This marks the first meeting between the two sides since March 2022, when France prevailed 2-1 thanks to a clutch late goal from Aurelien Tchouameni in stoppage time. Pepe scored the game’s opening goal in that contest, and the Elephants raced to an early 1-0 lead.
Kylian Mbappe remains the centerpiece of a star-studded French roster that includes Ousmane Dembele and 20-year-old phenom Desire Doue, who’ll take the pitch for manager Didier Deschamps one last time before he steps down after 14 years at the helm.
Depending on how long Deschamps keeps the first-stringers in, I’m expecting the home crowd at Stade de la Beaujoire in Nantes to be in full force regardless, making an upset less likely.
France has won eight of its last nine international fixtures, including recent victories over Colombia and Brazil. Mbappe is steadily closing in on Olivier Giroud’s historic mark of 57 career goals for France, while Dembele is fresh off a standout performance for PSG in the UEFA Champions League Final.
The tandem possesses a lethal ability to exploit gaps, and while the Elephants’ backline has looked unbeatable lately, facing the world’s top-ranked side presents an entirely unique challenge.
Mbappe probably relishes the chance to distance himself from the ongoing distractions at Real Madrid, and I anticipate that the world-class striker will find the back of the net for Les Bleus.
The Play: Same Game Parlay – France moneyline + Kylian Mbappe anytime goalscorer (+110, DraftKings Sportsbook)
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