Côte d'Ivoire at the FIFA World Cup 2026

History

Côte d'Ivoire have participated in the FIFA World Cup on three previous occasions: Germany 2006, South Africa 2010, and Brazil 2014. In each appearance they were eliminated in the group stage, making 2026 their first World Cup since 2014 and only their fourth overall. At Germany 2006 they were placed in what was dubbed the "Group of Death" alongside Argentina, the Netherlands, and Serbia and Montenegro, finishing bottom despite a 3-2 consolation win over Serbia. In 2010 they were grouped with Brazil and Portugal and again could not advance. In 2014 they beat Japan 2-1 but went out after a 2-1 defeat to Colombia. The Elephants are three-time Africa Cup of Nations champions (1992, 2015, 2023).

Qualification

Côte d'Ivoire topped CAF qualifying Group F with an unbeaten record: eight wins, two draws, zero losses, and a goal difference of +25 - the best offensive record in African qualification. Their direct qualification ended an absence from the World Cup dating back to 2014. It is the first time since 2014 that the Elephants have made it to the global stage. The team was managed throughout the campaign by Emerse Faé, who became a permanent appointment in February 2024 after lifting the AFCON 2023 title as interim coach - the first manager in AFCON history to be appointed mid-tournament and win the title.

Preparation

Côte d'Ivoire's World Cup ended in the Round of 32: after finishing second in Group E (6 points, W2 L1) behind Germany, they lost 2-1 to Norway on 30 June at Dallas Stadium. Amad Diallo equalised with a solo goal (74') after Antonio Nusa's opener (39'), but Erling Haaland struck a late winner (86'). Coach Emerse Faé attributed the exit to the squad's inexperience at this level, said the team lacked maturity, and vowed to come back stronger in future competitions; there is no indication he plans to step down.

Latest news

Faé blames lack of maturity for World Cup exit, vows stronger comeback

· coach

Reflecting on the Round of 32 elimination, coach Emerse Faé said it was the first World Cup for many players and that the team was 'maybe lacking in maturity'. He remained optimistic, saying the squad would use the setback as motivation and pledging: 'We're going to keep working to come back stronger in future competitions.' No indication he plans to step down.

Haaland's late strike eliminates Ivory Coast 2-1 in Round of 32

· matches

Norway beat Côte d'Ivoire 2-1 at Dallas Stadium: Antonio Nusa opened the scoring (39'), substitute Amad Diallo equalised with a solo goal (74') after earlier clearing a goal-bound effort off the line, but Erling Haaland scored the winner (86') to send Norway through to face Brazil in the last 16. Ivory Coast's first-ever World Cup knockout appearance ended at the Round of 32.

Singo absent vs Curaçao; Ndicka on bench but unused for entire group stage

· injuries

Wilfried Singo (hamstring) sat out the 2-0 win over Curaçao despite being on the bench; the federation confirmed continued rest and treatment, return estimated 30 June. Evan Ndicka was again unused for a third straight group match, missing the whole group stage with a thigh injury. Emmanuel Agbadou also sat out, rotational. Singo and Ndicka could feature in the Round of 32 vs Norway on 30 June.

Pépé brace sends Ivory Coast through 2-0 vs Curaçao; first-ever World Cup knockout berth

· matches

Nicolas Pépé scored twice (7', 64') as Ivory Coast beat Curaçao 2-0 in Philadelphia, clinching a first-ever World Cup knockout appearance. Yan Diomandé assisted the opener after a Curaçao error; Ibrahim Sangaré set up the second. Amad Diallo started but was withdrawn at half-time. CIV finished second in Group E (6 pts, W2 L1) and face Norway in the Round of 32 on 30 June at AT&T Stadium, Dallas.

Ndicka returns to team training, Singo unlikely to feature vs Curaçao

· injuries

Evan Ndicka, absent for both group matches with a thigh injury, has resumed team training ahead of the Curaçao finale, offering Ivory Coast a potential boost at centre-back. Wilfried Singo, who suffered a hamstring injury vs Germany (20 June), is unlikely to feature; Guéla Doué is expected to cover at right-back in his place.

Singo scan results reassuring; likely available for Curaçao finale

· injuries

Wilfried Singo underwent additional medical examinations on 22 June following his hamstring injury exit against Germany. The results proved reassuring. RotoWire reports on 23 June that he is 'doing fine and should be an option for Ivory Coast's group stage finale against Curaçao on Thursday', while the team is taking a cautious rest and treatment approach.

Coach Faé accuses Germany of 'lack of fair play' after Singo injury incident

· general

Post-match, coach Faé accused Germany of a 'lack of fair play'. The key incident: Singo kicked the ball out due to injury but Germany did not return possession. Faé: 'You would have expected a bit more fair play from a great nation like Germany.' He also cited a confrontation with German defender Nathaniel Brown.

Singo suffers hamstring injury vs Germany, doubtful for third group match vs Curaçao

· injuries

Singo (Galatasaray) sustained a hamstring injury in the 80th minute vs Germany in Toronto, brought off in clear pain and seen in tears. RotoWire: 'initial feelings aren't good' pending scans, estimated return June 25 (CIV vs Curaçao).

Germany 2-1 Ivory Coast: Undav brace overturns Kessie lead in Toronto

· matches

Kessié (30', cross Diomandé) gave CIV the lead; substitute Undav levelled (68') and added a 90+4' winner. Kossounou and Agbadou started in central defence; Ndicka and Wahi unused substitutes (Wahi's Canada entry denial reversed same day). CIV second in Group E, 3 points (1W-1L).

Wahi initially denied Canada entry but authorization later reversed; traveled to Toronto as unused substitute

· squad

FIF initially announced Wahi (OGC Nice) could not travel to Canada for the Germany match (18 June), but later the same day confirmed authorizations had been obtained. He traveled to Toronto and was an unused substitute vs Germany (20 June). Under investigation in France since 29 May (unusual bets, Nice vs Metz 17 May); not formally charged.

Amad Diallo 90th-minute winner gives Elephants 1-0 victory over Ecuador in World Cup opener

· matches

Côte d'Ivoire beat Ecuador 1-0 in Philadelphia on 14 June. Substitute Amad Diallo (Manchester United) scored in the 90th minute, assisted by Wilfried Singo. Ecuador hit the woodwork three times (Yeboah, Minda, Valencia). CIV had 4 shots on target to Ecuador's 1. Ndicka and Kossounou were on the bench; Agbadou and Doué started in central defence.

Coach Fae confirms Ndicka the only unavailable player for Ecuador opener

· injuries

Head coach Emerse Fae confirmed on the eve of the Ecuador match that Evan Ndicka was the only player who would not be available: 'I am not going to say that everything is going well in the medical room, but with the exception of N'dicka, everyone will be able to play tomorrow.' Ndicka was named on the bench rather than excluded from the squad entirely.

Elephants hold open community training session at Subaru Park ahead of Ecuador opener

· general

Côte d'Ivoire held a mandatory free community training session for fans at Subaru Park in Chester on Friday 12 June at 18:30 ET, two days before their Group E opener against Ecuador. All 32 World Cup participating nations are required to host one public training session at their base-camp venue.

Ndicka likely to miss World Cup opener against Ecuador with thigh injury

· injuries

Evan Ndicka's thigh problem sustained in the Rome derby last month is likely to rule him out of Ivory Coast's Group E opener against Ecuador on 14 June. In his absence, Emmanuel Agbadou and Odilon Kossounou are expected to form the central defensive partnership, with Singo and Doué at fullback.

Côte d'Ivoire beat Philadelphia Union II 2-0 in closed-doors base-camp scrimmage

· matches

In a closed-doors warm-up at their World Cup base camp, the Elephants beat a youthful Philadelphia Union II 2-0 at Subaru Park in Chester on 8 June 2026. Evann Guessand scored (9') and Ange-Yoan Bonny added a penalty (40'). Alban Lafont saved a Cavan Sullivan penalty (23') and an academy keeper denied Nicolas Pépé from the spot (82'). It was their final tune-up before the Ecuador opener.

Elephants reach Philadelphia base camp and hold first training session in the USA

· general

Côte d'Ivoire landed in the United States on 6 June 2026, staying at a hotel in Wilmington, Delaware, and reached their World Cup base in the Philadelphia area on 7 June, training shortly after. The Elephants train at the Philadelphia Union's Subaru Park in Chester, where they also held a friendly against Union II (8 June) and a community session (12 June) before their group games in Philadelphia.

Elephants stun world champions France 2-1 in final World Cup tune-up

· matches

Côte d'Ivoire beat world champions France 2-1 in their only pre-tournament friendly in Nantes on 4 June 2026. Rayan Cherki put a much-changed France ahead before half-time (45'); Guéla Doué levelled (53') and substitute Amad Diallo completed the comeback (84'). Injured centre-backs Ndicka and Kossounou did not start, with Singo and Agbadou deputising.

Elephants move from Paris to Nantes ahead of France friendly

· matches

The Ivorian delegation left its Paris training base on Wednesday 3 June 2026 for Nantes, where the Elephants face world champions France in their only pre-tournament friendly on Thursday 4 June at 21:00 local time at the Stade de la Beaujoire. The match is framed as a full-scale test before the World Cup; injury concerns persist around Evan Ndicka and Odilon Kossounou.

Akpa ruled out injured; Opéri called up as World Cup replacement

· squad

The Ivorian Football Federation confirmed defender Clément Akpa (AJ Auxerre) is out of the 2026 World Cup with an adductor injury sustained in training, having already missed the end of the Ligue 1 season. Left-back Christopher Opéri (Istanbul Başakşehir), previously on the reserve list, replaces him and has joined the squad at the Paris training camp.

Squad

PlayerPositionClub
Yahia FofanaGKÇaykur Rizespor
Mohamed KonéGKCharleroi
Alban LafontGKPanathinaikos
Emmanuel AgbadouDFBeşiktaş
Christopher OpériDFIstanbul Başakşehir
Ousmane DiomandéDFSporting CP
Guéla DouéDFRC Strasbourg
Ghislain KonanDFGil Vicente
Odilon KossounouDFAtalanta
Evan NdickaDFAS Roma
Wilfried SingoDFGalatasaray
Seko FofanaMFFC Porto
Parfait GuiagonMFSporting Charleroi
Christ Inao OulaïMFTrabzonspor
Franck KessiéMFAl-Ahli
Ibrahim SangaréMFNottingham Forest
Jean-Mickaël SeriMFNK Maribor
Simon AdingraFWAS Monaco
Ange-Yoan BonnyFWInter Milan
Amad DialloFWManchester United
Oumar DiakitéFWCercle Brugge
Yan DiomandéFWRB Leipzig
Evann GuessandFWCrystal Palace
Nicolas PépéFWVillarreal
Bazoumana TouréFWTSG Hoffenheim
Elye WahiFWOGC Nice

Recent results

  • 2023-11-17 — CIV 9-0 SEY (qualification)
  • 2023-11-20 — GAM 0-2 CIV (qualification)
  • 2024-01-06 — CIV 5-1 SLE (friendly)
  • 2024-03-23 — CIV 2-2 BEN (friendly)
  • 2024-03-26 — CIV 2-1 URU (friendly)
  • 2024-06-07 — CIV 1-0 GAB (qualification)
  • 2024-06-11 — KEN 0-0 CIV (qualification)
  • 2025-03-21 — BDI 0-1 CIV (qualification)
  • 2025-03-24 — CIV 1-0 GAM (qualification)
  • 2025-09-05 — CIV 1-0 BDI (qualification)
  • 2025-09-09 — GAB 0-0 CIV (qualification)
  • 2025-10-10 — SEY 0-7 CIV (qualification)
  • 2025-10-14 — CIV 3-0 KEN (qualification)
  • 2025-11-14 — KSA 1-0 CIV (friendly)
  • 2025-11-18 — OMA 0-2 CIV (friendly)
  • 2026-03-28 — CIV 4-0 KOR (friendly)
  • 2026-03-31 — CIV 1-0 SCO (friendly)
  • 2026-06-14 — CIV 1-0 ECU (group)
  • 2026-06-20 — GER 2-1 CIV (group)
  • 2026-06-25 — CUW 0-2 CIV (group)
  • 2026-06-30 — CIV 1-2 NOR (round_of_32)

View Group E →