IVORY COAST

Ivory Coast is a four-time World Cup participant (2006, 2010, 2014, 2026), never having advanced past the group stage. At the 2026 World Cup, Ivory Coast plays in Group E against Germany, Ecuador, and Curaçao. Head coach Emerse Faé, a former Elephants player (since 2024). The leaders: Sébastien Haller (Eintracht Frankfurt), Simon Adingra (Stoke City), Nicolas Pépé, Eric Bailly.

In 2024 Ivory Coast sensationally won the Africa Cup of Nations at home — real drama. In the group stage the team lost to Nigeria 0:1 and Equatorial Guinea 0:4, the rating fell to its lowest ever. Coach Jean-Louis Gasset was fired; assistant Emerse Faé took over mid-tournament. Then came the miracle: in the round of 16 — a penalty win over Senegal; in the quarterfinal — 2:1 over Mali in extra time; in the semifinal — 1:0 over DR Congo. In the final, the Elephants beat Nigeria 2:1 — Sébastien Haller's goal in the 81st minute.

As a national-team star in the World Cup era, the team played at three previous tournaments (2006, 2010, 2014) with the "golden generation" of Drogba-Touré-Kalou but never advanced. In 2014 in Brazil, Ivory Coast was playing for the round of 16 in the final match — a draw was needed, but Greece earned a penalty in the 92nd minute (1:2). Qualifying for 2026 ended in first place in CAF. In Group E the main rival is Germany (June 20 in Toronto). Matches are in Philadelphia, Toronto, and Philadelphia.

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