Will Les Éléphants Impress in Nantes Too?
The French national soccer team is looking to claim its third World Cup title this summer. The world’s top-ranked team already made a strong statement during the March friendlies, defeating both Brazil (2-1) and Colombia (3-1) in the U.S. Given these positive signs, the prediction for France vs. Ivory Coast is that the Équipe Tricolore can secure another victory.
However, Les Éléphants, for their part, have lost only one of their last eight international matches (seven wins, one draw) and have scored a total of 17 goals. If Didier Deschamps opts for rotation in Nantes, the prediction that Les Bleus will secure another comfortable victory against the Ivory Coast is by no means a sure thing, especially since the French have kept a clean sheet in only one of their last five international matches.
Also striking is the Ivorians’ concentrated offensive firepower; they remained unbeaten and did not concede a single goal in ten matches in CAF World Cup Qualifying Group F (eight wins, two draws), while scoring 25 goals themselves. Virtually all the key players in Emerse Faé’s squad earn their keep at top European clubs or, as in the case of captain Franck Kessié, who currently plays for Al-Ahli, have long laced up their cleats for top European clubs. We definitely believe Les Éléphants are capable of scoring in Nantes, which is why our main tip is for the Ivory Coast to find the net.
However, Les Bleus are also extremely dangerous with Kylian Mbappé and the core group centered around the newly crowned Champions League winners Ousmane Dembélé, Bradley Barcola, and Désiré Doué. Les Bleus have scored at least two goals in each of their last eleven international matches without exception (29 goals in total). It is therefore likely that this friendly at the Stade de la Beaujoire will also be a high-scoring affair.
France – Ivory Coast Head-to-Head Record
Head to Head: 2 – 1 – 0
A total of three international matches have taken place between the two nations so far, and in all three cases, the Équipe Tricolore remained unbeaten against the Ivory Coast (two wins, one draw).
All three previous matches were friendlies, all of which took place in France. Most recently, France won 2-1 in Marseille in the spring of 2022. The friendly five and a half years prior in Lens ended 0-0.
France – Ivory Coast Prediction
Once again, Ivory Coast is among the most exciting African teams at the 2026 World Cup. The individual quality is remarkably high, as reflected in two convincing wins in March over South Korea (4-0) and Scotland (1-0). The Ivorians are traveling to Nantes with confidence and, facing a European powerhouse that will be Germany’s group opponent at the 2026 World Cup, aim to send a message to the German national team by demonstrating that they can hold their own.
If Didier Deschamps rotates his squad too heavily, the Éléphants’ starting lineup could very well spring a surprise, even though the French are a top contender to win the tournament in the 2026 World Cup predictions.
Given that the Ivorians are very clinical in front of goal and the Équipe Tricolore, in turn, has kept a clean sheet in only one of their last five international matches, our main recommendation is that Les Éléphants will score at least one goal in this international match.
