History: When the French National Team Became Lyonnais in 1969

Yet back in history, Lyon has seen some odd moments. Now, there are two notable events where the French national team was forced to wear the colours of local clubs due to matches against Hungary. The most famous incident occurred during the 1978 World Cup in Mar del Plata, Argentina, when a mix-up in jersey colours led the French team to wear the green and white kit of Kimberley, a small Argentine club. While the 1978 mix-up is widely known, a lesser-told story occurred almost a decade earlier, on February 12, 1969, in Lyon’s Gerland Stadium. This match, mired in confusion and diplomatic tensions, saw the French national team—composed of seasoned players—wear the OL colors, including a few stars from their fierce rivals, AS Saint-Étienne.

The events that led to this odd situation began well before the players took to the field. Hungary, known for its formidable football reputation at the time, had a list of demands before agreeing to the friendly match. They insisted that the French squad be made up of young "hopefuls" rather than fully established senior players. However, France fielded a team of A-listers, seasoned professionals well known to fans. As a result, the Hungarians refused to acknowledge the game as an official match, arguing that France had not adhered to the spirit of the agreement.

The diplomatic tensions did not end there. The Hungarians also insisted on one final, unusual condition: the French national team could not wear their iconic blue jerseys. Instead, they demanded that France play in the kit of a local club. Given the match was to take place at Lyon's Gerland Stadium, it was decided that the French team would wear the red, white, and blue colours of Olympique Lyonnais (OL), the city’s pride.

The game itself, ending in a 2-2 draw, might have been forgotten if not for this curious twist of fate. The sight of French football legends, including Georges Bereta, Bernard Bosquier, and Jean-Michel Larqué—key players for AS Saint-Étienne—wearing the OL jersey was nothing short of surreal. The rivalry between Saint-Étienne and Lyon is one of the most heated in French football, with their clashes in the "Derby du Rhône" sparking fierce passions among fans and players alike. Yet, on that day in 1969, these bitter rivals found themselves, for the first and only time, united under the same club colors. For fans of both teams, it was a moment that added another layer to the rich and often unpredictable history of the Rhône-Alps derby.

Fast forward to today, and the national team has continued to play in Lyon’s now-renamed Groupama Stadium, where they have played five matches since 2016. Though their results in Lyon have been mixed—three wins, one draw, and one loss—the stadium holds a special place in the team's recent history as one of their most frequently visited venues outside the Stade de France.