Côte d'Ivoire at the 2026 FIFA World Cup: Squad, Manager, Fixtures & Tournament History

Côte d'Ivoire are returning to the FIFA World Cup™ for the first time since Brazil 2014 — a 12-year wait that ends at the FIFA World Cup 2026™ in Canada, Mexico and the United States. Les Éléphants have appeared at the global showpiece three times before, and on each occasion they have fallen at the group stage, often in painful circumstances. The hunger to finally break through is real, and the squad arriving in North America is arguably the most complete they have had in years.

Under coach Emerse Faé, Côte d'Ivoire went through their entire qualifying campaign without conceding a single goal — a defensive record that underlines just how well-organised this side has become. Backed by a continental title won on home soil in 2024, they head to the tournament with confidence, quality and a score to settle.

The Coach: Emerse Faé

Faé's rise to the top of Ivorian football is one of the more remarkable stories in recent international management. He was appointed on an interim basis in January 2024, mid-tournament at the Africa Cup of Nations, after Jean-Louis Gasset was dismissed with the team in crisis. The 41-year-old former international midfielder — previously a member of Gasset's coaching staff — took over with the Ivorians on the brink of elimination.

What followed was extraordinary. Faé guided Côte d'Ivoire through the knockout rounds and all the way to the final, where a 2-1 victory over Nigeria delivered the continental title on home soil. The interim tag was swiftly removed, and he has gone on to oversee a flawless World Cup qualifying campaign. Relatively inexperienced at the top level of management, he has already proven he can handle the biggest moments.

Côte d'Ivoire's 2026 World Cup Fixtures & Group

14 June: Côte d'Ivoire v Ecuador – Philadelphia Stadium

20 June: Germany v Côte d'Ivoire – Toronto Stadium

25 June: Curaçao v Côte d'Ivoire – Philadelphia Stadium

How Côte d'Ivoire Qualified

Côte d'Ivoire sealed their place at the 2026 finals by beating Kenya 3-0 in their final qualifying match, topping CAF Group F without losing a single game — or conceding a single goal across all ten matches. It was a dominant campaign that required resilience, with Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang's Gabon pushing them hard throughout. Seko Fofana finished as the team's top scorer with three goals, while a host of other players — including Simon Adingra, Sébastien Haller, Franck Kessié and Ibrahim Sangaré — chipped in with two apiece.

Côte d'Ivoire's World Cup Record

Confederation: CAF

Best Finish: Group stage (2006, 2010, 2014)

Last Appearance: Brazil 2014 (Group stage)

First Appearance: Germany 2006 (Group stage)

Total Appearances: 4 (2006, 2010, 2014, 2026)

Overall Record: P9 W3 D1 L5 F13 A14

Côte d'Ivoire's Last World Cup: Brazil 2014

Brazil 2014 remains the most frustrating chapter in Côte d'Ivoire's World Cup story. In a group that looked more navigable than those they had faced previously, Sabri Lamouchi's side opened promisingly — a 2-1 win over Japan, with goals from Wilfried Bony and Gervinho. But a 2-1 defeat to Colombia, who were galvanised by James Rodríguez, left them needing a point against Greece in the final group game to advance for the first time.

They were on course for it. Then, in the 93rd minute, Georgios Samaras converted a penalty to give Greece a 2-1 win and their first-ever knockout-round berth — leaving Côte d'Ivoire to rue another agonising exit. As former defender Kolo Touré put it: "We were particularly motivated by the prospect of travelling to Brazil. It made it even harder to leave the way we did."

Côte d'Ivoire's First World Cup: Germany 2006

Les Éléphants' long-awaited World Cup debut came in Germany in 2006, and the draw gave them little room for comfort — Argentina and the Netherlands in the same group. Under former France coach Henri Michel, they acquitted themselves well. A 2-1 defeat to Argentina, in which Didier Drogba — scoring his country's first-ever World Cup goal — pulled one back after efforts from Hernán Crespo and Javier Saviola, was followed by another 2-1 loss to the Dutch. But they signed off with a spirited 3-2 comeback win over Serbia and Montenegro, a match in which they trailed 2-0 for the third time in as many games before turning it around.

Côte d'Ivoire's Most Memorable World Cup Moments

The 2010 World Cup in South Africa produced arguably Côte d'Ivoire's finest collective performance on the global stage. Drawn into a group with Portugal, Brazil and North Korea, they opened by holding Cristiano Ronaldo's Portugal to a goalless draw — a result that sent shockwaves through the tournament. After losing 3-1 to Brazil, they closed with a convincing 3-0 win over North Korea. Four points, impressive performances, and yet still no place in the knockout rounds — a reminder of how fine the margins are at the World Cup.

The Greece defeat in 2014 remains the moment that haunts supporters most. A last-gasp penalty, a 93rd-minute exit, and the feeling that this generation of Ivorian talent may have run out of time.

Côte d'Ivoire's All-Time World Cup Top Scorers

Côte d'Ivoire's 13 World Cup goals across three tournaments have been shared among eight players, with four forwards netting twice each. Didier Drogba leads the list — scoring in both 2006 and 2010 — and holds the distinction of netting his country's very first World Cup goal against Argentina. Aruna Dindane also contributed two in 2006, while Bony and Gervinho each scored twice at Brazil 2014.

Côte d'Ivoire's Most Capped World Cup Player

Yaya Touré holds a unique record — he featured in all nine of Côte d'Ivoire's World Cup matches across the 2006, 2010 and 2014 tournaments, making him the country's most capped player in the competition's history. The former Barcelona and Manchester City midfielder was also on the scoresheet in the 3-0 win over North Korea at South Africa 2010. After the Greece exit in Brazil, he was among the players who responded with character — helping Côte d'Ivoire claim the 2015 Africa Cup of Nations title with a dramatic 9-8 penalty shootout victory over Ghana.