History was made at the Parc des Princes on January 12, 2026, as Paris FC pulled off a stunning upset, knocking out defending champions Paris Saint-Germain with a 1-0 victory in the Coupe de France Round of 32. In a city derby that will be talked about for years, it was former PSG academy product Jonathan Ikoné who delivered the decisive blow, scoring the only goal of the match and sending Paris FC into the last 16 for the first time at the expense of their illustrious neighbors.
The build-up to this clash was already electric. Just eight days earlier, the two Parisian clubs had faced off in Ligue 1, with PSG narrowly edging their rivals 2-1 in the first top-flight Paris derby since 1990. PSG, fresh off lifting the French Champions Trophy after a dramatic penalty shootout win over Marseille, seemed poised to continue their domestic dominance. However, football has a way of rewriting scripts—and this time, it was Paris FC who seized their moment.
PSG manager Luis Enrique was forced to shuffle his lineup, missing six key players due to AFCON commitments, injuries, and illness. Achraf Hakimi and Ibrahim Mbaye were away with their national teams, while Safonov, Kang-In Lee, and Quentin Ndjantou were sidelined by injuries. Lucas Hernandez was out with illness. Enrique named a starting eleven featuring Chevalier in goal, a backline of Zabarnyi, Pacho, Lucas Beraldo, and Warren Zaire-Emery, with Fabian Ruiz, Vitinha, and Mayulu in midfield. The attacking trio consisted of Kvaratskhelia, Ramos, and Barcola.
Paris FC, meanwhile, lined up with Nkambadio between the posts, Kolo, Mbow, Otavio, Ollila, and Sangui at the back, and a midfield and attack featuring Lopez, Camara, Gory, Cafaro, and Guebbels. The underdogs, newly promoted and sitting 15th in Ligue 1, were backed by luxury brands LVMH and Red Bull, but few expected them to topple the 16-time Coupe de France winners on their own turf.
From the opening whistle, PSG took control, dominating possession and peppering the Paris FC goal. They enjoyed a staggering 70% of the ball and registered 25 shots, but Paris FC’s defense, marshaled by the outstanding Obed Nkambadio, refused to buckle. Ramos had the first clear chance, only for Nkambadio to rush off his line and snuff out the danger. Barcola’s long-range effort whistled just wide, and Kvaratskhelia was denied by a superb save from the Paris FC keeper just before halftime.
Despite PSG’s relentless pressure, Paris FC remained dangerous on the counter. Alimami Gory, the visitors’ winger, had their best early chance before being forced off with an injury just before the interval, replaced by Ikoné. The pattern continued after the break: PSG pressed forward, but every time they threatened, Nkambadio stood tall. Ten minutes into the second half, a sloppy pass from Moustapha Mbow gifted Ramos a golden opportunity, but again Nkambadio was equal to the task, punching away the curling shot.
As the minutes ticked by and PSG’s frustration grew, the Parc des Princes crowd sensed the tension. Could the holders really fall at this early stage, and to their city rivals no less? The answer came in the 74th minute. Against the run of play, Paris FC broke with lightning speed. Ikoné, showing the poise and timing of a seasoned forward, latched onto a through ball and poked it past Chevalier. The former PSG youth product refused to celebrate out of respect for his old club, but the Paris FC bench erupted in joy.
"We’re really happy, we managed to defend well," Ikoné told France Télévisions after the match. "I’m really happy with my goal, just a joy, and I hope it’s not my last goal." His strike marked a first ever win for Paris FC over PSG, and it could not have come at a more dramatic moment.
The final minutes were a siege. PSG threw everything forward, desperate to avoid a humiliating exit. Substitute Nuno Mendes whipped in a pinpoint cross for Barcola, who fired wide with only the keeper to beat. During seven minutes of injury time, Désiré Doué came inches from leveling with a powerful header, but the hero of the night, Nkambadio, produced yet another spectacular save to deny Vitinha’s long-range strike. The final whistle confirmed what few had dared to dream: Paris FC, the underdogs, had written their own fairy tale.
The defeat was a bitter pill for PSG. Not since 2014 had they exited the Coupe de France at the last-32 stage, and it was their first home loss in the competition since 2022. The numbers told a story of dominance—70% possession and 25 shots to Paris FC’s four—but football is a game of moments, and Paris FC seized theirs. For PSG, the absence of key players and a lack of clinical finishing proved costly. The result also marked the end of a remarkable run for the reigning champions, who had won four of the last six Coupe de France titles and lifted the trophy for a record 16th time just last season.
Before kickoff, the night had already been tinged with emotion, as former PSG captain Mamadou Sakho—who began his career at Paris FC—announced his retirement on the pitch. That symbolic passing of the torch was perhaps a fitting prelude to the night’s events.
For Paris FC, the victory was more than just a cup upset. Newly promoted and fighting to stay clear of the Ligue 1 relegation zone, the result is a huge morale boost. With the draw for the last 16 looming, the city’s second club will now dream of going even further in a competition that has suddenly opened up.
PSG, meanwhile, must regroup quickly. Their next fixtures offer no respite, with Lille visiting the Parc des Princes on January 17 for a crucial Ligue 1 clash, followed by a trip to Portugal to face Sporting Lisbon in the Champions League, where a top-eight spot is on the line. Luis Enrique’s men will need to rediscover their cutting edge if they’re to bounce back from this shock defeat.
As the Parisian night settled over the Parc des Princes, it was Paris FC who celebrated, their players and fans savoring a night that will live long in club history. PSG, for all their dominance and star power, were left to ponder what might have been in a cup that so often delivers the unexpected.
