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The Spanish and French national football teams recorded underwhelming results in their latest friendly matches ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

Spain were held to a draw by Iraq, while France suffered a defeat against Ivory Coast in matches played on Friday (5 June) early morning local time.

Playing at Riazor Stadium, Spain coach Luis de la Fuente made several tactical experiments to test his squad’s readiness before the upcoming World Cup.

Several players were given the opportunity to showcase their abilities and adapt to the tactical system that will be implemented during the tournament.

La Furia Roja took the lead through Ferran Torres in the 16th minute.

However, their advantage did not last long as Merchas Doski netted the equaliser for Iraq in the 27th minute.

Neither side managed to score again, and the match ended with a 1-1 draw.

For Iraq, drawing against one of the World Cup favourites was a valuable result and a morale boost heading into the tournament.

Their solid performance is expected to strengthen the team’s confidence as they prepare for the global competition.

Meanwhile, France suffered a 1-2 loss to Ivory Coast.

Les Bleus initially went ahead thanks to a Rayan Cherki goal in the first half.

But Ivory Coast responded strongly after the break.

Guela Doue levelled the score before Manchester United’s agile winger Amad Diallo struck the winning goal to secure a memorable victory for The Elephants.

The defeat served as a crucial lesson for coach Didier Deschamps as he fine-tunes his team for the World Cup.

On the other hand, defeating one of Europe’s powerhouses gave Ivory Coast a significant morale boost ahead of the tournament.

In another friendly fixture, Sweden played out a 2-2 draw against Greece.

Sweden’s goals came from Viktor Gyokeres and Gustaf Nilsson, while Greece fought back to force a draw.

Friendly Match Results

As of Friday, 5 June early morning

Iran 2-0 Mali
(Saeid Ezatolahi 12', Ramin Rezaeian 55')

Sweden 2-2 Greece
(Kostas Tsimikas 10', Viktor Gyokeres 53', Gustaf Nilsson 69', Georgios Masouras 90+5')

Spain 1-1 Iraq
(Ferran Torres 16', Merchas Doski 27')

France 1-2 Ivory Coast
(Rayan Cherki 45', Guela Doue 53', Amad Diallo 84')

World Cup 2026 Predictions by PBVSI Official

Indonesian volleyball legend Loudry Maspaitella has also joined in the excitement surrounding the 2026 FIFA World Cup, which will kick off on 12 June.

As a sports enthusiast, Loudry follows not only volleyball—the sport that made his name—but also football.

Having won four SEA Games gold medals for Indonesia in 1991, 1993, 1997, and 2003, Loudry revealed his list of favourite teams for the World Cup.

Interestingly, he has not just one but six favourite national teams, all considered strong contenders for the title.

“There are Argentina, France, Spain, Brazil, Germany, and England,” Loudry told Tribunnews on Friday (29 May) night local time.

“At this early stage, those are the countries I’m backing to win,” added Loudry, who currently serves as Deputy Chairman for Development and Achievement at the Indonesian Volleyball Federation (PBVSI).

Based on global rankings, the teams Loudry mentioned indeed form the core of the title favourites for the 2026 World Cup.

Among the many star players set to feature in the tournament, Loudry expressed his admiration for Inter Miami’s Lionel Messi.

“There are many young players emerging now, but my all-time favourite remains Lionel Messi,” he concluded.

(Tribunnews.com/Giri)