The game will be played in Lille in June and be part of an away double-header say the IFA
Northern Ireland will take on 2018 World Cup winners France in an international friendly this summer.
Kylian Mbappe and Co will be fine-tuning their preparations for the World Cup and have lined up Michael O’Neill’s team for a pre-tournament friendly.
The match will take place on Monday, June 8th in Lille, the fourth largest stadium in France, at 9.10pm local time (8.10pm UK time).
Didier Deschamps team this week lost Liverpool striker Huge Ekitike to a serious Achilles injury which will keep him out for the World Cup. However, they will have the likes of Kylian Mbappé, Ousmane Dembélé, Antoine Griezmann and William Saliba preparing for the World Cup, which starts just a few weeks afterwards.
France’s first game is against Senegal on June 16th in New Jersey.
The two teams have not met in 27 years. In 1999, France came to Belfast and beat Northern Ireland 1-0. That came a year on from their maiden World Cup triumph on home soil in 1998
It is the first time Northern Ireland have played in France since the UEFA Euro 2016 campaign. The team played in Nice, Lyon and Paris in that tournament, but have never played in Lille.
“This is exactly the level of challenge we want. France are one of the top sides in world football so it’s a great test for our players,” said Irish FA Technical Director, Aaron Hughes, who was part of that famous journey to France a decade ago.
The Irish Football Association say the France game will be the second of two away friendlies, with the ‘date, venue and opponent of the first game to be announced in due course’.
“This fixture marks 10 years since UEFA Euro 2016 when our brilliant fans created such special memories so it’s a fitting occasion as we look forward,” said Irish FA President Conrad Kirkwood.
After losing the World Cup Play-off semi-final to Italy, Northern Ireland’s next competitive game is not until September. They will compete in Nations League League B, Group B2 in the autumn against Hungary, Ukraine and GeorgiaFurther details, including ticketing information, will be confirmed in due course.
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