Ivory Coast ended their 12-year absence from the global stage and qualified for the FIFA World Cup 2026 in North America.
Coached by Emerse Fae, the Ivory Coast impressively secured their ticket for 2026, finishing top of Group F in the CAF qualifiers with an unbeaten record and zero goals conceded in 10 matches (African Football) — though they were pushed hard by Gabon, who finished just one point behind them.
After exiting in the group stage in all three of their previous World Cup appearances in 2006, 2010 and 2014, the three-time African champions will be desperate to make it through to the knockout rounds for the first time.
The Elephants head into the tournament after being deposed as African champions, having reached the quarter-finals of AFCON 2025 before losing to Egypt.
The Elephants have been drawn in Group E, where they will face Ecuador, Germany, and tournament debutants Curaçao.
Ivory Coast 2026 World Cup fixtures
- Sunday, 15th June — Ivory Coast vs Ecuador — Lincoln Financial Field, Philadelphia, USA
- Saturday, 20th June — Germany vs Ivory Coast — BMO Field, Toronto, Canada
- Thursday, 25th June — Curaçao vs Ivory Coast — Lincoln Financial Field, Philadelphia, USA
What time do Ivory Coast’s World Cup games kick-off?
All kick-off times are BST.
- Ivory Coast vs Ecuador, midnight (15th June)
- Germany vs Ivory Coast, 9pm
- Curaçao vs Ivory Coast, 9pm
Ivory Coast 2026 FIFA World Cup Squad
Goalkeepers: Yahia Fofana (Rizespor), Mohamed Koné (Charleroi), Alban Lafont (Panathinaikos)
Defenders: Emmanuel Agbadou (Beşiktaş), Clément Akpa (AJ Auxerre), Ousmane Diomande (Sporting CP), Guela Doué (Strasbourg), Ghislain Konan (Gil Vicente), Odilon Kossounou (Atalanta), Evan Ndicka (AS Roma), Wilfried Singo (Galatasaray)
Midfielders: Seko Fofana (Porto), Parfait Guiagon (Charleroi), Franck Kessié (Al Ahli), Christ Inao Oulaï (Trabzonspor), Ibrahim Sangaré (Nottingham Forest), Jean Michaël Seri (NK Maribor)
Forwards: Simon Adingra (AS Monaco), Ange-Yoan Bonny (Internazionale), Amad Diallo (Manchester United), Oumar Diakité (Cercle Brugge), Yan Diomande (RB Leipzig), Evann Guessand (Aston Villa), Nicolas Pépé (Villarreal), Bazoumana Touré (Hoffenheim), Elye Wahi (Nice)
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