Team: Cote d'Ivoire

Ivory Coast bring one of the most passionate fan traditions in African football to 2026, with the Elephants having qualified consistently for major tournaments across two decades. The golden generation built around Didier Drogba has given way to a new group of players, many of whom compete at high levels across Europe. Sebastian Haller provides a genuine goal threat, while Nicolas Pepe and younger talents give the team pace and creativity in wide positions. Ivory Coast won AFCON in 2023 and arrive at the World Cup with the belief that their squad has the quality to challenge deep into the knockout stage of the tournament.

The Elephants secured their place with a 3-0 win over Kenya in their final CAF Group F fixture on 14 October, topping the section ahead of Gabon. It marks Côte d'Ivoire's return to the World Cup for the first time since 2014.