France suffered a setback in their preparations for the 2026 FIFA World Cup after surrendering a first-half lead to lose 2-1 against Ivory Coast, who celebrated their first-ever victory over Les Bleus.
France have confirmed their 2026 World Cup squad, with Bayern Munich duo Dayot Upamecano and Michael Olise both included in Didier Deschamps' final selection as Les Bleus prepare for another major tournament challenge.
Liverpool are bracing for a major setback after forward Hugo Ekitike suffered a serious Achilles injury that could sideline him for up to a year and rule him out of the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
France sent a strong message ahead of the global showpiece with a confident 3-1 win over Colombia, while Portugal were left frustrated by a resilient Mexico in a 0-0 stalemate.
France overcame Brazil 2-1 in an international friendly encounter at the Gillette Stadium in Massachusetts on Thursday.
Folarin Balogun has emerged as a key attacking force for AS Monaco this season, showing sharp form with four goals in his last four appearances in all competitions as the French club builds momentum ahead of the 2026 World Cup.