The Doué brothers, Desiré and Guéla, are among seven pairs of siblings at this year's World Cup, showcasing a unique brotherly bond that could be tested if France and Côte d'Ivoire meet in the knockout stages. During a warm-up match between France and Côte d'Ivoire in Nantes, Guéla scored the equalizer for the African side, prompting the camera to immediately focus on his younger brother Desiré, an unused substitute for France, who wore a wry smile during the celebrations. The match ended in a shock 2-1 victory for Côte d'Ivoire, and the two brothers embraced afterward, highlighting their close relationship despite the result.
The Doué Brothers' Journey
Born to a French mother and an Ivorian father, the Doué brothers have been inseparable since childhood. When Guéla was invited for a trial at Rennes' youth academy, five-year-old Desiré was seen doing keepy-ups on the sidelines. Both were immediately signed by the club. In 2023, when Guéla made his Rennes first-team debut, he replaced his 17-year-old brother Desiré. Their bond is so strong that Desiré has described them as being like twins, sharing an incredible connection and supporting each other daily.
Sibling Pairs at the World Cup
This World Cup features seven pairs of siblings. Three sets play for different teams: Brian Brobbey (Netherlands) and half-brother Derrick Luckassen (Ghana), John Souttar (Scotland) and Harry Souttar (Australia), and Iñaki Williams (Ghana) and Nico Williams (Spain). Three pairs play for the same nation: Lucas and Théo Hernández (France), Laros and Deroy Duarte (Cape Verde), and Leandro Bacuna and Juninho Bacuna (Curaçao). Jurrien and Quinten Timber (Netherlands) would have made it eight, but Jurrien is injured.
Potential Knockout Clash
Only one pair of brothers has ever faced each other at a World Cup: Germany's Jérôme Boateng and Ghana's Kevin-Prince Boateng in 2010 and 2014. The Doué brothers could be next, as Côte d'Ivoire is a potential opponent for France in the knockout stage. Desiré has spoken about their incredible bond, but it remains to be seen if that brotherly love remains intact if Côte d'Ivoire repeats its victory.
Other World Cup News
In other news, Didier Deschamps discussed his legacy with Les Bleus, acknowledging that his tenure has been defined by victories. Omar Artan, the first Somali referee to officiate at a World Cup, was denied entry to the US due to alleged links to terror organizations, but received a hero's welcome upon returning to Mogadishu. Protests in Mexico City blocked an avenue leading to the Azteca Stadium days before the World Cup kicks off. Thomas Tuchel confirmed that Bukayo Saka is playing through pain and must be managed carefully. Nike replica shirts for World Cup teams are more expensive than ever. The Lionesses qualified for World Cup playoffs despite a 3-0 win over Ukraine, as Spain topped their group. Brazil received eight red cards in a 1-0 friendly defeat to the USWNT. Marco Silva was appointed at Benfica, while José Mourinho moved to Real Madrid. Real Madrid had a €150m bid for Julián Alvarez rejected by Atlético. Lionel Messi scored a penalty as Argentina beat Iceland 3-0 in a warm-up match. Roy Keane revealed he and Bruno Fernandes cleared the air with a phone call.
