Will Kylian Mbappe play tonight for France vs Northern Ireland in pre-World Cup friendly?
(Courtesy : Getty)
Kylian Mbappe will have his eyes set on winning his second Golden Boot.
With only three days remaining in the 2026 World Cup, France are all set to play their last international friendly against Northern Ireland. The two-time World Cup champions are currently prepping for the friendly fixture in Nord, France, which will be played at the Stade Pierre-Mauroy, the home stadium of Ligue 1 side LOSC Lille.
The French side has also received a major boost ahead of the warm-up game, with William Saliba and Ousmane Dembele expected to return after being given the green light by the fitness team. However, fans might be keen to know whether Kylian Mbappe will feature in the Les Bleus squad against Northern Ireland.
Will Kylian Mbappe start vs Northern Ireland?
Kylian Mbappe has been training with the French camp for weeks now and was also named to the starting line-up for the nation’s 2-1 loss to the Ivory Coast on Friday, June 5. The Frenchman played the whole first half, maintaining a passing accuracy of 81% while creating two chances and one shot on target.
Thus, the Real Madrid star will most probably start against Northern Ireland in the warm-up game on June 8.
Nevertheless, after suffering a disappointing loss in the first warm-up game, Didier Deschamps’s side will look forward to bouncing back before playing their first World Cup game on Tuesday, June 16, against Senegal.
During his 2025-26 campaign with Real Madrid, he played 44 matches across all competitions, scoring 42 goals and providing 7 assists. However, the 27-year-old suffered criticism for his performance and playing style as Los Blancos finished the 2025-26 season without any major trophies.
While Les Bleus prepare to face Northern Ireland, Deschamps has the final opportunity to utilise every player before the summer tournament officially commences.
France’s 2026 FIFA World Cup group
In the 2026 FIFA World Cup, France have been drawn in Group I alongside Senegal, Iraq and Norway. They are the likely candidates to top the group and secure an easy path towards the play-offs.
Will Kylian Mbappe play tonight against Northern Ireland?
Kylian Mbappe is likely to play for France in their last warm-up game ahead of the World Cup.
Where will the France vs Northern Ireland match take place?
The match will take place at the Stade Pierre-Mauroy in Nord.
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