In-depth Analysis
After wrapping up their short training tour in the United States in the early hours of next Monday, France will take on Colombia in an international friendly in Washington DC. Prior to that, Les Bleus enjoyed a highly encouraging warm-up by defeating Brazil 2-1, a result that clearly underlines how seriously they are approaching their preparations for the 2026 World Cup. By consistently choosing high-quality South American opposition, the team in blue are clearly seeking the toughest possible tests ahead of the biggest football event on the planet.
Colombia have adopted a similarly ambitious approach in their own preparations. Their two most recent friendly opponents have both been top European sides. After suffering a narrow 1-2 defeat to Croatia, the South American team will now face France, a side currently in excellent form with an eight-match unbeaten streak, including seven victories, since their dramatic 4-5 loss to Spain in the 2025 Nations League semi-finals.
For Didier Deschamps, this is far more than just a routine friendly. It represents an important part of his wider plan to challenge for the 2026 World Cup title. As one of the very few men to have won the World Cup both as a player and as a manager, the French tactician is now targeting a second global crown from the dugout. This tournament in North America is also expected to be his final one in charge of Les Bleus. Given the extraordinary depth of talent currently available to France, squad selection has become one of Deschampsâ most difficult tasks. That is why this clash with Colombia will be a crucial opportunity for him to continue trimming down what is already a very long shortlist for the journey to North America.
After fielding an almost full-strength lineup against Brazil, Deschamps is likely to make several adjustments in this match in order to assess more backup options. That could open the door for less frequently used players such as Pierre Kalulu, Rayan Cherki, and experienced vice-captain NâGolo Kante to feature from the start. This will be the ideal moment for the fringe players to prove their worth as the battle for World Cup places becomes increasingly intense.
On the other side, Colombia have long been regarded as one of the most unpredictable dark horses whenever a World Cup comes around, and they remain a side capable of causing serious problems for any opponent. Their 1-2 defeat to Croatia in midweek was actually the first time Nestor Lorenzoâs men had tasted defeat in an entire year. Although Jhon Arias gave the South Americans an early lead in Orlando, conceding twice before halftime ultimately left them unable to avoid defeat.
Even so, Colombia can still take great pride in the consistency they have shown over the past 12 months since losing to Brazil in March of last year. Not only have they remained highly competitive, but they have also continued to score goals on a regular basis. Their current position in third place in the South American qualifiers for the 2026 World Cup is a reflection of just how dangerous this side can be. As a result, this meeting with France will serve as a hugely valuable benchmark to assess exactly where Colombia stand among the potential contenders heading into the World Cup.
Beyond the tactical and team-based storylines, the upcoming match also carries the potential for some notable individual milestones. James Rodriguez, who has already earned 123 caps for Colombia, is edging ever closer to the national team appearance record currently held by David Ospina with 129 matches. Meanwhile, Kylian Mbappe is also on the verge of a major landmark for Les Bleus. One goal against Colombia would see the 1998-born forward equal Olivier Giroudâs all-time France scoring record of 57 goals. Should he score twice, Mbappe would officially become the greatest goalscorer in the history of the French national team.