🇨🇮 Côte d'Ivoire
African champions twelve years after their last World Cup.
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Africa's Reigning Champions
Côte d'Ivoire have qualified for the FIFA World Cup 2026, representing the CAF confederation. Their presence at the tournament is a proud moment for their football nation and for the fans who have followed this journey through every qualifying match.
Côte d'Ivoire arrive as African champions, twelve years after their last World Cup appearance, and Group E hands them Germany, Ecuador, and tournament debutants Curaçao. The Germany fixture is the marquee moment, and Emerse Faé's Elephants have the European-based core to make it a contest.
Borussia Dortmund's Sébastien Haller, Brighton attacker Simon Adingra, and former Arsenal winger Nicolas Pépé give the front three Premier League pace. In midfield, Franck Kessié anchors from Saudi Arabia, and Roma defender Evan Ndicka leads the back line. The AFCON-2023-on-home-soil run was no fluke, and the Ivorian Coast wants to prove it across North America.
Group E Draw
All 4 teams in Côte d'Ivoire's group. Top 2 advance automatically, plus the 8 best third-placed teams across all 12 groups.
How the 2026 Group Stage Works
Côte d'Ivoire's 2026 Squad
Projected, official call-up to be confirmed
Likely first eleven
in a 4-3-3.
Editorial first XI based on qualifying form, club minutes, and Emerse Fae's recent selection. The official sheet is named one hour before kickoff.
- 1Yahia Fofana
- 4Odilon Kossounou
- 5Evan Ndicka
- 19Serge AurierCAPTAIN
- 17Ghislain Konan
- 8Franck Kessie
- 10Ibrahim Sangare
- 18Seko Fofana
- 7Nicolas Pepe
- 9Sebastien Haller
- 11Simon Adingra
All 23 players
Goalkeepers
3 playersDefenders
7 playersMidfielders
6 playersForwards
7 playersEditorial selection based on current first-team form. The final 26-player squad is at the head coach's discretion and is announced approximately one month before the tournament.
Côte d'Ivoire in CAF
Africa (CAF)
CAF sends 9 African teams, the most ever, following Morocco's 2022 semi-final that changed the conversation about African football forever.
Côte d'Ivoire competed against other CAF nations through a multi-year qualifying campaign to secure their spot at the 2026 World Cup. The expanded format of 48 teams gave more nations a path to the tournament than ever before.
Other CAF teams at 2026
No Ticket? Watch Côte d'Ivoire At a Fan Zone
Every Côte d'Ivoire group match is screened live on the giant screen at the FIFA Fan Fest in the host city. Free entry, no queue, just show up. Every other host city also screens every match, so wherever you are, you can join the crowd.
Frequently Asked Questions
Group E Opponents
The teams Côte d'Ivoire face in the group stage
