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Guela Doué scored a goal and set up the winning attack as Ivory Coast stunned France – and Doué’s brother in the French dugout – with a 2-1 win in a World Cup qualifier on Thursday.
Amad Diallo fired home Doué’s low cross from the right six minutes from time at the Stade de la Beaujoire in Nantes.
Rayan Cherki had put France ahead in the final minute of the first half when he left two defenders behind and beat goalkeeper Yahia Fofana with a low shot.
Fofana was often in action and saved chances for Kylian Mbappé, Michael Olise and again Cherki.
But Doué – whose brother Désiré Doué plays for France – received a pass from
Nicolas Pépé equalized eight minutes into the second half.
It was a cinematic homecoming for Ivory Coast’s current manager and former player, Emerse Faé, who was 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 manager in 2018. (Photo by Loic VENANCE/AFP via Getty Images)
Many fans waved posters with a picture of Didier Deschamps to thank the coach for a successful reign that began in 2012 and saw France win the World Cup in 2018 and reach the final in 2022, and will 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 Hernandez, Zaïre-Emery and Barcola as substitutes in the second half.
France play one more tune-up – against Northern Ireland on Monday in Lille – before heading to the USA.
France open their campaign against Senegal on June 16 in New Jersey.
Ivory Coast face Ecuador in their opener in Philadelphia on June 14.
Spain held to a draw by Iraq
Iraq responded to an early goal from Spain, who were without star strikers Lamine Yamal and Nico Williams, to hold on for a 1-1 draw at the Riazor stadium in A Coruna, northern Spain on June 4, 2026. (Photo by Ander Gillenea/AFP via Getty Images)
Spain – another World Cup favorite – were held 1-1 at home by Iraq in La Coruña.
Playing without forwards Lamine Yamal and Nico Williams, Spain took a 1-0 lead in the 16th minute on 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 — all of whom took part in the Champions League final. The recently injured Mikel Merino came on as a substitute.
Spain is scheduled to play another tune-up match – against Peru in Mexico on Monday.
Iraq will face Norway in its World Cup opener in Massachusetts on June 16.
