France go up a gear in their preparations for the 2026 FIFA World Cup on Thursday with an international friendly game against Emerse Faé's Ivory Coast at Nantes ' Stade de la Beaujoire. Before embarking to the United States, Les Bleus will have a second game on Monday, at Lille , against Northern Ireland.
Didier Deschamps is expected to field his tried-and-trusted 4-2-3-1 formation with four attacking players from the start. The France national team manager has already announced that William Saliba won't feature against Les Elephants as the Arsenal centre-back nurses a back pain, although his participation for the World Cup is not thrown in doubt at all.
Alongside left-sided centre-back Dayot Upamecano , Deschamps is poised to give the nod to his former RB Leipzig teammate, Ibrahima Konaté , now a free agent after announcing his Liverpool exit . Chelsea 's Malo Gusto and Al-Hilal's Théo Hernandez are expected to be tonight's starting full-backs for France. Aurélien Tchouaméni and Adrien Rabiot will constitute France's double midfield pivot.
Up front, where Deschamps is spoilt for choices, Rayan Cherki will act as the team's No. 10 between Michael Olise and Marcus Thuram . Kylian Mbappé will lead the line. L'Equipe understands that Deschamps intends to make up to 10 changes during the game to spread France's workload, which means that the five PSG players that only arrived at Clairefontaine on Tuesday – on the back of their Champions League win – should get some minutes.
Mike Maignan ; Théo Hernandez, Dayot Upamecano, Ibrahima Konaté , Malo Gusto; Aurélien Tchouaméni, Adrien Rabiot; Marcus Thuram, Rayan Cherki, Michael Olise; Kylian Mbappé. (L'Éq)
