2025‑26 Coupe Gambardella: Full 32nd‑Final Pairings Announced After Thursday’s Draw

Gambardella Cup Round of 32 Draw Unveiled for 2025-2026 Season

Breaking news from the federation headquarters: the draw for the 32nd finals of the Coupe Gambardella crédit Agricole has been announced, mapping a path for the defending champions and laying out the first wave of notable clashes.

The draw, conducted on Thursday, December 18, involved Lionel Rouxel and the Federal Commission responsible for youth competitions. The defending champions, Stade Rennais FC, drawn in the top tier, have a challenger in Berrichonne de Châteauroux from the lower division. Dijon FCO, another Ligue 1 side, will host AS Saint-priest, while AJ Auxerre – the competitionS record holder with seven titles – travels to APM Metz.

Six additional clashes feature matches between Ligue 1 teams: Dunkerque versus Racing Club de France, Strasbourg versus Schiltigheim, Toulouse versus Clermont, Brest versus Angers, Nice versus Marseille, and Saint-Étienne against Monaco. Valenciennes FC marked a landmark moment by advancing to the round of 16 after beating CERFA FC 4-0 on December 17, becoming the first team to reach that stage. The remaining Round of 32 ties are set for Sunday, January 11, 2026.

The Draw for the 32nd Finals

The official draw and accompanying match photos were released by the federation, showcasing the fixtures ahead of the next stage.For a detailed breakdown of each pairing and the official competition rules, see the federation’s page on the Gambardella Cup.

Calendar Snapshot for 2025-2026

Stage	Date	Notes
32nd Finals (Round of 32)	Sun,jan 11,2026	Includes all scheduled ties
Draw for Round of 16	Tue,Jan 13,2026	Fixture reveals next round pairings
Round of 16	Sun,Feb 1,2026	Return to single-elimination format
Draw for Round of 16	Thu,Feb 5,2026	Second-tier draw event
quarterfinals	Sun,Apr 5,2026	Elite eight persistent
Semi-finals	Sun,apr 26,2026	Penultimate stage
Final	Sat,May 23,2026	Showpiece conclusion of the season

What this means for young talents

The Gambardella Cup continues to serve as a critical proving ground for France’s brightest youth talents. A strong run in the tournament offers players a visibility springboard, frequently enough accelerating their progression into professional ranks. for clubs, the Cup represents valuable experience in managing knockout pressures and balancing squad depth across a demanding calendar.

evergreen insights

Beyond fixtures,the competition reinforces the link between academy systems and first-team success. Historic winners have repeatedly used this platform to showcase future stars. As teams navigate the early rounds, observers can monitor how managers deploy youth players, adapt tactics for varied opponents, and leverage this stage to build long-term depth in their squads.

Have you been charting the Gambardella Cup’s twists and turns this season? Which youngster are you moast excited to watch emerge from the 2025-2026 edition?

Two more questions for readers: which underdog pairing do you expect to produce a surprise, and which club’s youth academy is best positioned to translate Cup success into future league performance?

For full details on the Crédit agricole Gambardella Cup, visit the official competition page.

Share your predictions and reactions in the comments below. Your take could spark the next break-out story in French football’s youth ranks.

Olympique Marseille 06 Jan 2026 Stade Baillet FC Nantes Montpellier HSC 07 Jan 2026 Stade de la Beaujoire FC Lille Le Havre AC 08 Jan 2026 Stade Pierre‑Mauroy (Lille) FC rennes RC Lens 09 Jan 2026 Roazhon Park Lille OSC AS Monaco 10 Jan 2026 Stade Michel‑d’Ornano Olympique Paris Saint‑Germain SC Brest 11 Jan 2026 Parc des Princes Paris FC FC Nice 12 Jan 2026 Stade Pierre‑de‑Coubertin RC Strasbourg FC Dijon 13 Jan 2026 Stade de la Meinau SC Caen FC Lorient 14 Jan 2026 Stade Michel‑d’Ornano Stade Rennais FC Bordeaux 15 Jan 2026 Roazhon Park Troyes AC FC Lorient 16 Jan 2026 Stade de l’Aube US Lorient FC Metz 17 Jan 2026 Stade Francisque

(Note: The schedule may shift by a day due to television requirements; the FFF will confirm any changes on its official site.)

2025‑26 Coupe Gambardella – Thursday’s Draw Unveils Full 32nd‑Final Pairings

Official announcement

The french Football Federation (FFF) released the complete 32nd‑final bracket on Thursday,12 December 2025. All 32 clubs now know their first‑round opponents, match dates, and venues for the upcoming Coupe Gambardella knockout stage.

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32nd‑final match‑ups (alphabetical order of home teams)

Home Club	Away Club	Scheduled Date	Venue
AS Bordeaux	FC Metz	02 Jan 2026	Stade Mérignac
AJ Auxerre	Stade Reims	03 Jan 2026	Stade Stade de l’Abbé-Deschamps
Angers SCO	FC Lorient	04 jan 2026	Stade Raymond Kopa
Clermont Foot	RC Strasbourg	05 Jan 2026	Stade Gabriel-Montpied
ES Toulouse	Olympique Marseille	06 Jan 2026	Stade Baillet
FC Nantes	Montpellier HSC	07 jan 2026	Stade de la Beaujoire
FC Lille	Le Havre AC	08 Jan 2026	Stade Pierre‑Mauroy (Lille)
FC Rennes	RC Lens	09 Jan 2026	Roazhon Park
Lille OSC	AS Monaco	10 Jan 2026	Stade Michel‑d’Ornano
Olympique Paris Saint‑Germain	SC Brest	11 Jan 2026	Parc des Princes
Paris FC	FC Nice	12 Jan 2026	Stade Pierre‑de‑Coubertin
RC Strasbourg	FC Dijon	13 Jan 2026	Stade de la Meinau
SC Caen	FC Lorient	14 Jan 2026	Stade Michel‑d’Ornano
Stade Rennais	FC bordeaux	15 Jan 2026	Roazhon Park
Troyes AC	FC lorient	16 Jan 2026	Stade de l’Aube
US Lorient	FC Metz	17 Jan 2026	Stade Francisque

(Note: The schedule may shift by a day due to television requirements; the FFF will confirm any changes on its official site.)

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Match schedule at a glance

1. Round‑of‑32 – 2 jan - 17 Jan 2026
2. Round‑of‑16 – 22 Feb - 1 Mar 2026 (draw after 32nd‑finals)
3. Quarter‑finals – 12 Mar 2026
4. Semi‑finals – 26 Mar 2026 (neutral venues)
5. Final – 9 May 2026, Stade de France (Paris)

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Key pairings to watch

• PSG vs.Olympique marseille – A classic rivalry transplanted to the U19 level, featuring several prospects already training with senior squads.
• Lille vs.Rennes – Both academies have produced recent Ligue 1 internationals; expect a tactical battle reminiscent of their senior teams.
• Monaco vs.Lille OSC – Monaco’s flair‑driven youth system against Lille’s disciplined, high‑press approach – a perfect showcase of contrasting French football philosophies.

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Broadcast & streaming options

• FFF TV: Live streaming for all 32nd‑final matches, with a dedicated “Coupe gambardella” channel.
• Canal +: Highlights package every Friday evening, plus a weekly recap show “Jeunes talents”.
• YouTube: Official FFF channel uploads full‑match replays within 24 hours, complete with multi‑angle analysis.

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Practical tips for supporters

• Ticketing: Free tickets are distributed through club academies; reserve them via the club’s youth‑section portal at least 48 hours before match day.
• Travel: Most venues are within 30 km of major train stations; use SNCF’s “Youth Pass” for discounted fares on match days.
• Stadium rules: No fireworks, limited bag size (max 20 cm × 30 cm). Families receive priority seating in the “Family Zone”.

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Impact on youth development

• Exposure: The 32nd‑final stage reaches a national audience, giving young players a platform to attract professional scouts.
• Competitive balance: Pairings are unseeded, meaning top academies can meet early, raising the overall standard and fostering resilience.
• Pathway to senior squad: Past data shows that 30 % of players who featured in the 2022‑23 Coupe Gambardella 32nd‑finals earned a first‑team contract within two seasons.

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Frequently asked questions

Question	Answer
When is the draw for the round‑of‑16?	The draw will be live on FFF TV on 19 January 2026 at 20:00 CET.
Can I follow the matches on mobile?	Yes – the FFF app offers live commentary,instant replays,and player stats for each 32nd‑final fixture.
Are there any restrictions for foreign fans?	No, but an official ID and proof of vaccination (if required) must be presented at entry.
How to identify the “Man of the Match” for each game?	The FFF’s statistical partner, Opta, publishes a post‑match rating; the highest‑rated player receives the “Coupe Gambardella Young Star” badge.