Meknes – Cote d’Ivoire is set to face New Zealand at BMO Field in Toronto on Sunday for the second match of the Canadian Shield. This friendly encounter provides both teams with an opportunity to assess their readiness ahead of World Cup qualifying matches. Notably, this will be the first time these two nations compete against each other in an official match.
Kick-off is scheduled for 12:00 a.m. on June 8 (GMT+1), and fans can catch the live broadcast on FOX Soccer Plus in the USA, OneSoccer and TSN in Canada, as well as beIN SPORTS MENA.
Cote d’Ivoire’s head coach, Emerse Fae, has assembled a powerful squad, despite the absence of key players such as Amad Diallo from Manchester United and Dorgelès Maho from Salzburg. Midfielder Mory Gbane has received his first call-up, which highlights the team’s fresh talent. Fae remarked that this tournament would help them acclimate to local conditions while offering a unique challenge against teams from North America and Oceania, known for their distinctive playing styles.
On the other side, New Zealand’s coach, Darren Bazeley, welcomes back center-back Finn Surman, striker Chris Wood from Nottingham Forest, and goalkeeper Nik Tzanev after injury spells. Bazeley emphasized the importance of facing a variety of opponents in preparation for the upcoming FIFA World Cup 2026, with Côte d’Ivoire and Ukraine providing the level of competition they seek.
Key battles to watch include Simon Adingra’s pace against Finn Surman’s defensive skills, while Franck Kessié and Ibrahim Sangaré will aim to dominate midfield against New Zealand’s Liberato Cacace and Marko Stamenic. Both teams are keen to enhance their pressing game and improve ball transitions as they gear up for more significant challenges ahead.
Predicted line-ups:
Côte d’Ivoire (4-2-3-1): Yahia Fofana, Wilfried Singo, Odilon Kossounou, Jean-Philippe Gbamin, Ghislain Konan; Ibrahim Sangaré, Franck Kessié; Nicolas Pépé, Mohamed Diomande, Simon Adingra, Sébastien Haller.
New Zealand (3-4-2-1): Max Crocombe, Tyler Bindon, Finn Surman, Francis de Vries; Liberato Cacace, Joe Bell, Marko Stamenic, Callan Elliot; Alex Garbett, Elijah Just; Chris Wood.
The expected outcome of the match sees Côte d’Ivoire edging out New Zealand with a predicted score of 2–1.
This friendly is an exciting opportunity for both teams to test their strategies and foster team cohesion ahead of their qualifying campaigns. Fans can look forward to a competitive match that emphasizes growth and potential for both sides as they prepare for their footballing futures.