CIV
FIFA WORLD CUP 2026 · GROUP E · POT 3

Ivory Coast
World Cup 26-man squad

Manager Emerse Faé · Ivorian head coach since January 2024. A former Ivory Coast midfielder — won the home 2023 AFCON (held Jan-Feb 2024) for continental honours. First World Cup at the helm.
MD1 Jun 14 vs Ecuador MD2 Jun 20 vs Germany MD3 Jun 25 vs Curaçao
3th World Cup appearance · best finish: Group stage (2006, 2010, 2014)
26
Squad size
25.4
Avg. age
26 / 26
Overseas-based
0 / 26
WC veterans / Debutants
TEAM STORY

Emerse Faé's Ivory Coast announced their final 26 on May 15. This is their first World Cup in 12 years (since Brazil 2014) — and the squad retains most of the 2023 AFCON-winning core (Kessié, Ndicka, Adingra, Kossounou) that lifted the trophy on home soil in early 2024.

Spine: Franck Kessié (Al-Ahli, captain and the AFCON final scorer) + Ibrahim Sangaré (Nottingham Forest, 1.91m) + Evan Ndicka (Roma) + Simon Adingra (Monaco) + Amad Diallo (Manchester United). A Premier League/Serie A-heavy core, with many French-developed players bringing top-flight European pedigree.

Group E fixtures: June 14 vs Ecuador → June 20 vs Germany → June 25 vs Curaçao. The Germany clash is the headline. Breaking the 2014 group-stage exit benchmark is the realistic target — and the 2023 AFCON momentum is the carry.

PREDICTED XI

LIKELY 4-3-3.

Emerse Faé inherits the 2024 AFCON-winning 4-3-3. Kessié anchors, with Sangaré and Seri as 8s. The front three blends Adingra (left), Pépé/Amad Diallo (right) with Wahi or Diakité at No.9.

4-3-3 (predicted)
KEY PLAYERS

KEY PLAYERS.

The five players who set the tone in the group stage — by role and trait.

8
CM · MF
Franck Kessié
Al-Ahli · 29
103 caps · 15G WC debut
Captain & scorer in the 2023 AFCON final
CAPTAIN
18
CDM · MF
Ibrahim Sangaré
Nottingham Forest · 28 · Premier League
58 caps · 12G WC debut
Midfield anchor (1.91m)
ACE
21
CB · DF
Evan Ndicka
Roma · 26 · Serie A
28 caps · 0G WC debut
Defensive cornerstone (left-footed CB)
10
LW · FW
Simon Adingra
Monaco · 24 · Ligue 1
28 caps · 5G WC debut
Two assists in the 2023 AFCON final
15
RW · FW
Amad Diallo
Manchester United · 23 · Premier League
19 caps · 6G WC debut
Manchester United winger
SQUAD

SQUAD 26.

GK GOALKEEPERS 3
DF DEFENDERS 8
MF MIDFIELDERS 6
FW FORWARDS 9
GROUP E

GROUP E.

GER
Germany
POT 1
CUW
Curaçao
POT 4
CIV
Ivory Coast
POT 3
ECU
Ecuador
POT 2
Sun, Jun 14
Ecuador vs Ivory Coast
Philadelphia Stadium · Philadelphia, PA
Group E opener. The 2024 AFCON champions look to assert themselves against South America's young Ecuador — Adingra and Amad Diallo on the wings.
View lineups →
MD1
Sat, Jun 20
Germany vs Ivory Coast
Toronto Stadium · Toronto
A heavyweight clash vs Pot 1 Germany. Containing Musiala and Wirtz tests Kessié–Sangaré in midfield and the Ndicka/Kossounou pairing at the back.
View lineups →
MD2
Thu, Jun 25
Curaçao vs Ivory Coast
Philadelphia Stadium · Philadelphia, PA
Group decider vs Curaçao. Cracking the debutants' organisation falls on Pépé and Adingra's wing quality.
View lineups →
MD3

Road to the final

Spoiler-free: the potential bracket route by final group position. No results shown.

Win Group E
  1. Round of 32 Jun 29 · Foxborough vs 3rd place (A/B/C/D/F)
  2. Round of 16 Jul 04 · Philadelphia vs Winner of Match 77
  3. Quarter-finals Jul 09 · Foxborough vs Winner of Match 90
  4. Semi-finals Jul 14 · Arlington vs Winner of Match 98
  5. Final Jul 19 · East Rutherford vs Winner of Match 102
Runners-up, Group E
  1. Round of 32 Jun 30 · Arlington vs Runners-up Group I
  2. Round of 16 Jul 05 · East Rutherford vs Winner of Match 76
  3. Quarter-finals Jul 11 · Miami Gardens vs Winner of Match 92
  4. Semi-finals Jul 15 · Atlanta vs Winner of Match 100
  5. Final Jul 19 · East Rutherford vs Winner of Match 101
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