Landover, Maryland – Following a prestigious victory over Brazil, Les Bleus will offer playing time to their reserves against Colombia on Sunday at Northwest Stadium in Landover, Maryland, in what represents one of the final opportunities to fine-tune preparations ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup. The match is scheduled for 21:00 local time (15:00 EDT/21:00 CET).
After a strong performance from their starting eleven on Thursday in Foxborough, Massachusetts, France manager Didier Deschamps can now turn his attention to evaluating the depth of his squad. This six-day stint in the United States was designed, from the outset, to provide a look at as many players as possible as the deadline for announcing the World Cup roster (June 11-July 19 in the United States, Mexico, and Canada) approaches. That deadline was recently moved from May 13th to May 14th to avoid a scheduling conflict with a key Ligue 1 match between Lens and Paris Saint-Germain.
While the core of the World Cup squad appears largely settled, time is of the essence for players hoping to challenge the established hierarchy. Sunday’s match against Colombia presents a crucial opportunity to influence Deschamps’ final decisions. Two additional friendly matches await France – a June 4th encounter with Côte d’Ivoire in Nantes and a June 8th match in Lille against an opponent yet to be determined – before the team departs for Boston on June 9th, where they will establish their base camp for the tournament.
Cherki and Akliouche Eager to Impress
“It’s time to rotate the squad. I want to see as many players on the field as possible,” Deschamps explained during a press conference on Saturday. “This is an opportunity to prepare for the competition,” added midfielder N’Golo Kanté, who will captain the side on his 35th birthday.
The crowd at Northwest Stadium, home of the Washington Commanders NFL franchise, likely won’t see superstar Kylian Mbappé for extended minutes, if at all. The captain, who scored his 56th international goal against Brazil – one shy of Olivier Giroud’s all-time record – is being given a breather as he returns from a nearly month-long absence due to a left knee sprain.
Forward Désiré Doué, who was experiencing some back discomfort on Friday, is reportedly feeling better, but midfielder Adrien Rabiot, nursing a knee injury, is expected to remain sidelined.
Attention will focus on the performances of young attacking talents Rayan Cherki of Manchester City (22 years old) and Maghnes Akliouche of Monaco (24 years old). However, breaking into the established attacking quartet of Mbappé, Ousmane Dembélé, Randal Kolo Muani, and Michael Olise – who were all impressive against Brazil – will be a significant challenge.
Hernandez or Digne at Left Back?
A key area of competition heading into the World Cup is the left-back position. Théo Hernandez, who had a mixed performance against Brazil, will likely compete with Lucas Digne for playing time. Digne had previously established himself as the first-choice option but has lost his starting role at Aston Villa, making Sunday’s match a critical opportunity to regain ground.
Colombia, finalists at the 2024 Copa América and currently third in South American World Cup qualifying, will provide a stern test. Managed by Argentinian Nestor Lorenzo, they boast the second-best attack on the continent, trailing only the reigning world champions, Argentina. Players like Luis Díaz (Bayern Munich) and Jhon Arias (Palmeiras), along with veteran James Rodríguez (Minnesota United FC), will look to exploit any vulnerabilities in the French defense. This match represents a valuable opportunity for Deschamps to assess his squad’s resilience against a quality opponent.
“Colombia has a lot of quality. We will respect them as we respected Brazil,” Deschamps stated.
The match in Landover offers a final glimpse of France’s preparations before the tournament officially kicks off. The focus will be on evaluating players, solidifying tactical approaches, and building momentum as they head towards the World Cup in the United States, Mexico, and Canada. For those on the fringes of the squad, Sunday represents a chance to make a lasting impression and secure a place on the plane.
Next up for France: a friendly against Côte d’Ivoire on June 4th in Nantes, followed by a match against an as-yet-undetermined opponent on June 8th in Lille. The final 26-man squad for the World Cup will be announced on May 14th.
