Prediction: Colombia vs France

Verdict: France win

Best odds: 5/8

Bookmaker: BetUS

France conclude their brief United States tour on Sunday evening with an international friendly against Colombia at Northwest Stadium in Washington DC.

Both nations are sharpening their preparations for this summer’s World Cup, and after Les Bleus’ impressive midweek win over Brazil, attention now turns to another high‑level test against one of South America’s most consistent sides.

Colombia

Colombia arrive for this fixture having recently seen a remarkable run come to an end. Widely regarded as perennial dark horses on the World Cup stage, Los Cafeteros had gone a full year without defeat before suffering a setback on Thursday. Their clash with Croatia in Orlando began positively, as Jhon Arias struck early to put the South Americans ahead, but defensive lapses before half‑time allowed their opponents to turn the game around, and Colombia were unable to find a response.

Despite that disappointment, there is still plenty for Néstor Lorenzo’s side to reflect on positively. The defeat ended a 12‑month unbeaten stretch dating back to their loss against Brazil last March, a period during which goals flowed freely and confidence steadily grew. Colombia’s qualifying campaign was particularly strong, as they finished third in the CONMEBOL standings and now look ahead to opening their World Cup group against tournament debutants Uzbekistan.

Ranked 14th in the FIFA world rankings, Colombia now face another stern examination against third‑ranked France, in what promises to be one of their most demanding warm‑up matches. The historical balance between the two sides is finely poised, with two wins apiece from their four previous meetings. One of the most memorable encounters came at the Confederations Cup in June 2003, when France legend Thierry Henry scored the decisive goal.

Team News

Captain James Rodríguez is set to earn his 124th international cap, leaving him just five short of equalling David Ospina’s all‑time appearance record. Defensive stalwart Yerry Mina is absent from the US tour after an injury‑hit season with Cagliari, while striker Jhon Durán also misses out.

Even so, attacking quality remains abundant, with Bayern Munich winger Luis Díaz and Sporting Lisbon forward Luis Suárez expected to spearhead the attack. Suárez arrives in prolific form after scoring four goals against Venezuela in Colombia’s final qualifier and playing a key role in Sporting’s run to the Champions League quarter‑finals.

France

France approach Sunday’s contest full of confidence following another efficient qualifying campaign and an impressive performance against Brazil. Les Bleus cruised through UEFA qualification last autumn, ending Group D with commanding victories over Ukraine and Azerbaijan before shifting their focus firmly toward the World Cup.

Although officially labelled a friendly, Thursday’s encounter with Brazil in Massachusetts carried all the intensity of a competitive fixture. Kylian Mbappé’s delicate lofted finish opened the scoring and moved him to within one goal of equalling Olivier Giroud’s all‑time France record. Even after Dayot Upamecano’s dismissal, France maintained control, with Hugo Ekitike adding a second before Brazil pulled one back late on.

That victory extended France’s unbeaten run to eight matches, including seven wins since their dramatic Nations League semi‑final defeat to Spain. Didier Deschamps, already one of only three men to win the World Cup as both player and manager, is preparing for what will be his final tournament in charge, leading Les Bleus back to North America with expectations as high as ever.

France’s squad depth remains formidable, though injuries have limited some options. Roma midfielder Manu Koné, Barcelona defender Jules Koundé and PSG winger Bradley Barcola are among those unavailable. Barcola’s absence allowed Ekitike to make a decisive impact against Brazil, while Maxence Lacroix continues to deputise effectively for William Saliba in central defence.

Deschamps may opt to rotate his squad after naming a strong lineup in midweek, potentially handing minutes to players on the fringes such as Pierre Kalulu, Rayan Cherki and experienced vice‑captain N’Golo Kanté. Kevin De Bruyne—who scored six times for Belgium in 2025 and overtook Eden Hazard on his nation’s scoring list—was not involved here, but France’s attacking resources remain plentiful regardless.

Conclusion

Colombia’s year‑long unbeaten run underlined their growing stature, particularly given the relentless demands of CONMEBOL qualifying, but the challenge of facing France represents another significant step up.

Les Bleus may rotate personnel for the second match of their American tour, yet their standards are unlikely to dip with World Cup places still up for grabs. France’s experience, depth and composure should ultimately prove decisive once again.

Verdict: France win

Best odds: 5/8

Bookmaker: BetUS