Côte d'Ivoire return to the World Cup for the first time since 2014, aiming to reach the quarter-finals after a 12-year absence. The 2023 Africa Cup of Nations champions, who qualified without conceding a goal in 10 matches, boast a squad filled with familiar names from Europe's top leagues. Coach Emerse Faé has prioritised defensive solidity and counter-attacking flair, with Roma's Evan N'Dicka anchoring a defence that can shift to a back three.
The midfield is led by captain Franck Kessié, formerly of Barcelona and Milan, while Nottingham Forest's Ibrahim Sangaré is expected to fill the holding role after Jean Michaël Seri's decline. In attack, Nicolas Pépé, now at Villarreal after a stint at Arsenal, is in fine form with eight goals and eight assists in La Liga this season. The 30-year-old winger has said this will likely be his only World Cup. Other options include Amad Diallo, Yan Diomandé, and Evann Guessand, who shoulders the goal-scoring burden in the absence of a star striker.
Faé, 42, took over as head coach during the 2024 Africa Cup of Nations after Jean-Louis Gasset was sacked, leading the hosts to the title. He has set ambitious targets: 'I'm not going to the United States for a holiday. Why not win it?' The federation president, Yacine Idriss Diallo, has also demanded at least six games, meaning a quarter-final berth. Friendly wins against Scotland (1-0) and South Korea (4-0) in March offered encouragement.
Teenage midfielder Christ Inao, 19, has broken into the starting lineup after a strong season with Trabzonspor in Turkey. He won his first cap in November and impressed at the Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco. Meanwhile, Pépé, absent from that tournament for personal reasons, is determined to make his mark. 'I'm 30 now and I don't see myself staying with the national team until 34 to play at the next World Cup,' he said.
