Major Upsets in Coupe de France: Early Exit for Five Ligue 2 Clubs

The seventh round of the 2026-2027 Coupe de France once again reaffirmed the famous sporting adage about the "magic of the cup"; this stage, marking the entry of Ligue 2 clubs into the competition, saw a flurry of surprising exits for professional teams at the hands of amateur and lower-division sides.

Stunning Exits for Ligue 2 Sides

Following Dijon's 2-1 defeat on Friday against third-tier Orléans, four other Ligue 2 clubs bowed out of the tournament on Saturday. The biggest upset came as Guingamp, winners of the competition in 2009 and 2014, failed to break down their neighbors Lannion (National 2 - N2), playing out a goalless draw (0-0) before being dumped out on penalties (3-4).

The surprises did not end there; amateur side Saint-Ouen-l'Aumône (National 2) managed to defeat Boulogne-sur-Mer 1-0. Meanwhile, Dunkerque suffered a heavy 3-0 home defeat against third-tier Quevilly-Rouen, and Rodez fell 3-2 to Versailles (third tier) in a thrilling encounter.

Hard-Fought Progress Against Sixth-Tier Opponents

The toll could have been even heavier for Ligue 2 clubs against Régional 1 sides (R1 - France's sixth tier). Sochaux (against Boulay), Annecy (against Firminy), and Nancy (against Béthune) all had to endure tense penalty shootouts to secure their progression. Stade de Reims also faced severe difficulties against Tourcoing, having to wait until the 91st minute for Jean-Philippe Célestin to net the solitary winner.

Caution and Anticipation Ahead of the Remaining Fixtures

These shock results put the remaining Ligue 2 teams on high alert to avoid further upsets, notably Nantes, who travel to face Stade Castelbourgeois (R1) on Sunday at 14:00, and league leaders Saint-Étienne, who take on Rumilly-Vallières (National 1) at 15:00.