Ivory Coast World Cup 2026: Can the Elephants break group-stage curse?

Ivory Coast are back at the World Cup for the first time since they appeared in Brazil 12 years ago, and although they days of the Toure brothers and Didier Drogba are far behind them, Emerse Fae led them to a shock AFCON victory in 2023 and is hoping for more success this summer. 

Read on for my Ivory Coast World Cup 2026 predictions. 

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Goalkeepers: Yahia Fofana (Rizespor), Mohamed Kone (Charleroi), Alban Lafont (Panathinaikos).

Defenders: Emmanuel Agbadou (Wolverhampton Wanderers), Christopher Operi (Istanbul Basaksehir), Ousmane Diomande (Sporting), Guela Doue (Racing Strasbourg), Ghislain Konan (Gil Vicente), Odilon Kossonou (Atalanta), Evan Ndicka (AS Roma), Wilfried Singo (Galatasaray).

Midfielders: Seko Fofana (Stade Rennais), Parfait Guiagon (Charleroi), Franck Kessie (Al Ahli), Christ Oulai (Trabzonspor), Ibrahim Sangare (Nottingham Forest), Jean-Michael Seri (NK Maribor).

Forwards: Simon Adingra (AS Monaco), Ange-Yoan Bonny (Inter Milan), Amad Diallo (Manchester United), Oumar Diakite (Cercle Brugge), Yan Diomande (RB Leipzig), Evann Guessand (Aston Villa), Nicolas Pepe (Villarreal), Bazoumana Toure (Hoffenheim), Elye Wahi (Nice).

Amad Diallo could have a breakout tournament for Ivory Coast after a decent season with Manchester United, while Ange-Yoan Bonny played an important role in Inter Milan’s Serie A title win. The attack certainly has plenty of quality while Seko Fofana, Ibrahim Sangare and Franck Kessie provide power and quality from midfield.

Ther’s a lot of experience at the top end of the pitch, but in goal Rizespor’s Yahia Fofana looks set to keep his place as the number one ahead of everyone’s favourite former Football Manager wonderkid Albert Lafont. 

World Cup Odds

In qualifying, Ivory Coast topped their group to make it straight through to these finals, finishing just one point above Gabon, having won eight and drawn two of their 10 qualifiers. That unbeaten record was impressive, but what was even more so was their 25 goals scored and zero conceded. Their defence may not feature any superstars but it clearly functions relatively well, although the level of the opposition must be taken into account. 

At the recent AFCON they were knocked out after losing 3-2 to Egypt at the quarter-final stage, so it is difficult to gauge how they fare, especially against the elite nations. They’ve never made it out of the group stage at their three World Cup appearances, but with the new extended 48-team competition, this represents their best chance of featuring in a knockout tie. 

With minnows Curacao in their group along with Germany and Ecuador, four points should be enough for a place in the last 32. 

Group E Fixtures:

14 June 7pm local (15 June 12am BST) - vs Ecuador (Philadelphia)

20 June 4pm local (20 June 9pm BST) - vs Germany (Toronto)

25 June 4pm local (9pm BST) - vs Curacao (Philadelphia)

Key Player: Amad Diallo

I love watching Amad Diallo play and he is going to be the star of this Ivory Coast attack. He’s now 23, playing at his first World Cup and should have picked up some confidence given the good form Manchester United showed towards the end of the season. 

He only got two goals and three assists in the Premier League this term but there is no doubt that when he is at his flying best he is a top class operator. In 2024/25, he bagged 21 goal contributions in 43 appearances, and Ivory Coast are going to look to him at every turn. 

New boy Ange-Yoan Bonny is a bit of a wildcard and could strengthen their attack, but Diallo should be the star.

Football Odds

Prediction: Third in the group

Ivory Coast should beat Curacao in their final group game, but will they have anything riding on it by that point? I think they lose against both Germany and a strong Ecuador outfit, meaning they are likely to finish on three points. 

Depending on their goal difference, which shouldn’t take too much of a beating they may make it through in third, and if they do, they are likely to face the winner of Group D, which could be Turkey. Perhaps their individual quality can take them through that clash, but when they face a big boy they will fall. 

Third in the group feels likely, but that could send them home at the first hurdle again.