MANCHESTER United winger Amad Diallo will be among the players to watch for Ivory Coast at the 2026 Fifa World Cup.
Image: BACKPAGEPIX
Coach: Emerse Faé
Captain: Franck Kessié
Key player: Amad Diallo
All-time top scorer: Didier Drogba (65 goals)
Best FIFA Ranking: 12th (2013)
Worst FIFA Ranking: 75th (2004)
Current World Ranking: 34th (as of January 2026)
FIFA World Cup appearances: 2006, 2010, 2014, *2026
FIFA World Cup best finish: Group stage
It is hard to believe that one of Africa’s footballing giants, Ivory Coast — a country represented for many years by some of the game's biggest icons, such as Didier Drogba and Yaya Touré among others — will only be making their fourth Fifa World Cup appearance at the 2026 tournament in North America.
The Elephants made their debut on the global stage at Germany 2006. Credit to the incredible players of that golden generation, they also qualified for the subsequent tournaments: South Africa 2010 and Brazil 2014. Drogba scored the Ivorians’ first-ever World Cup goal in their opening match, a 2-1 defeat to Argentina in 2006.
They return in 2026 with high hopes of finally finding Drogba’s long-term successor in Yan Diomande, one of the youngest players at the upcoming tournament.
At just 19 years and 209 days old, Diomande enjoyed a stunning breakout 2025/26 season with RB Leipzig, scoring 12 goals and providing eight assists in 33 German Bundesliga appearances.
With a historic 2023 AFCON title under his belt, Faé represents a new generation of African tacticians blending modern football philosophies with deep emotional intelligence.
Born and raised in France, Faé started his coaching journey in Europe. By March 2020, he had completed his professional coaching licence, positioning himself as one of the most highly qualified young coaches on the continent.
The 42-year-old is renowned for a dynamic, attacking philosophy that emphasises possession and rapid transitions between defence and attack.
The midfield engine and captain, Kessié provides the vital physical presence, leadership, and international experience required to dictate the tempo of the team. He was one of the standout players during the Elephants' recent AFCON triumph.
2026 FIFA World Cup kits
Image: GraphicNews
The Manchester United winger enters the tournament in blistering form, bringing explosive pace, elite dribbling, and crucial creativity to the Elephants' attack. Alongside Diallo, who shone during the last Africa Cup of Nations, will be Diomande, one of the revelations of the 2025/26 Bundesliga season.
Also earning his place is the new first-choice striker, Evann Guessand. Meanwhile, Inter Milan’s Ange-Yoan Bonny looks set to make his international debut, and OGC Nice’s Elye Wahi, who was called up in March, will also feature in his first major international tournament for the Elephants.
Having historically been baptised by fire after being drawn in the "Group of Death" in both 2006 and 2010, their 2026 group appears far more navigable. They will surely target wins against both Ecuador and Curaçao in their opening and final group matches, with European giants Germany sandwiched in between.
June 14: Ivory Coast v Ecuador — Philadelphia Stadium
June 20: Germany v Ivory Coast — Toronto Stadium
June 25: Curaçao v Ivory Coast — Philadelphia Stadium
Goalkeepers: Yahia Fofana, Mohamed Koné, Alban Lafont
Defenders: Emmanuel Agbadou, Christopher Operi, Ousmane Diomande, Guéla Doué, Ghislain Konan, Odilon Kossounou, Wilfried Singo, Evan Ndicka
Midfielders: Seko Fofana, Parfait Guiagon, Christ Inao Oulai, Franck Kessié, Ibrahim Sangaré, Jean Michaël Seri
Forwards: Simon Adingra, Ange-Yoan Bonny, Amad Diallo, Oumar Diakité, Yan Diomande, Evann Guessand, Nicolas Pépé, Bazoumana Touré, Elye Wahi
Reserves: Christopher Operi, Malick Yalcouyé, Martial Godo, Sébastien Haller