Ivory Coast was once the most feared name in African football. The golden generation led by Didier Drogba qualified for three consecutive World Cups but was repeatedly tormented by "groups of death" and bad luck — drawn with Argentina and the Netherlands in 2006, and dramatically eliminated by a late Greece comeback in 2014. After Drogba, Yaya Touré, and the rest of that generation retired, "The Elephants" fell into a prolonged slump, missing two straight World Cups.

The turnaround came in early 2024 at the Africa Cup of Nations on home soil. Young coach Emerse Faé led the team through a gauntlet of knockout matches to lift the trophy, his stock rising to unprecedented heights. That tournament was the point where the new Ivory Coast truly began to bear Faé's imprint. In CAF World Cup qualifying, Ivory Coast delivered an unprecedented level of dominance — 8 wins, 2 draws, 25 goals scored, and, most remarkably, 0 goals conceded. They locked up first place in their group. That defensive record — a full qualifying cycle of 10 matches without conceding a single goal — is the best in CAF qualifying history. Ivory Coast showcased near-world-class quality on both ends of the pitch.

With a squad valued at €517 million, Ivory Coast's attacking lineup is legitimate. RB Leipzig forward Édouard Diallo (market value €75 million) tops the team's valuation chart, followed by Manchester United winger Amad Diallo (€50 million).

The biggest surprise is the late naturalization of Inter Milan forward Beni, just in time for the tournament. The 22-year-old won the Serie A title with Inter this season, contributing 7 goals and 8 assists in 46 appearances. Veteran Nicolas Pépé (Villarreal) remains in the squad, while the midfield is anchored by captain and former Barcelona star Franck Kessié.

At the back, Roma's Evan Ndicka and Atalanta's Odilon Kossounou provide defensive steel. In goal stands former French youth international goalkeeper Alban Lafont.

At the 2026 World Cup, Ivory Coast has been drawn into Group E alongside Ecuador, Curaçao, and powerhouse Germany. Ivory Coast's path to advancing hinges largely on the result of their opening match against Ecuador. If they can get a result (at least not lose) in that game, their momentum heading into the match against Curaçao will be significantly boosted. Even if they cannot take points off Germany, as long as they secure enough points from Ecuador and Curaçao, Ivory Coast has a strong chance of advancing to the Round of 32 as either second or third place in Group E. Under the new 48-team format, the eight best third-place finishers also advance — giving them even more margin for error.