FIFA World Cup 2026 Ivory Coast: Schedule, How to Watch, History & Record
Ivory Coast is back at the World Cup for the first time in 12 years. The Elephants missed the 2018 and 2022 tournaments but return to the global stage with one of their most talented squads in years.
They won the Africa Cup of Nations in 2024 on home soil in a dramatic run, replacing their coach mid-tournament before beating Nigeria 2-1 in the final. At the 2025 AFCON in Morocco, they reached the quarter-finals before losing 3-2 to Egypt in January 2026.
They qualified for the World Cup by topping CAF Group F ahead of Gabon. Now they face Group E alongside Germany, Ecuador and Curaçao. Getting out of the group for the first time ever is the goal.
Ivory Coast World Cup 2026 Schedule (Local Time)
Ivory Coast runs on Greenwich Mean Time, also written as GMT or UTC+0. The country does not observe Daylight Saving Time. During the summer World Cup, the US East Coast uses EDT which is UTC−4. So every ET kickoff is 4 hours behind local time in Abidjan.
| DATE | OPPONENT | LOCAL TIME (GMT) | US TIME (ET) | VENUE |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sunday, June 14 | Ecuador | 11:00 PM | 7:00 PM | Lincoln Financial Field, Philadelphia |
| Saturday, June 20 | Germany | 8:00 PM | 4:00 PM | BMO Field, Toronto, Canada |
| Thursday, June 25 | Curaçao | 8:00 PM | 4:00 PM | Lincoln Financial Field, Philadelphia |
The top two teams in Group E advance automatically. The eight best third-place finishers across all 12 groups also move through to the Round of 32.
Also Check: World Cup full match Fixtures
How to Watch the World Cup 2026 in Ivory Coast
New World TV holds the exclusive broadcast rights for the 2026 FIFA World Cup in Ivory Coast. All coverage is in French. The deal was confirmed in summer 2025 and covers all matches on a pay-TV basis.
New World TV is a Togo-based satellite broadcaster available across Francophone West Africa. Fans need a subscription to access live matches.
RTI (Radiodiffusion Télévision Ivoirienne) is the national public broadcaster. New World TV is required to sub-license 34 matches for free-to-air broadcast across eligible African markets. Ivory Coast is included. Check rti.info for confirmed free match listings as the tournament gets closer.
Canal+ Africa also operates in Ivory Coast. Check their local package for any World Cup coverage they carry alongside New World TV.
FIFA+ at fifa.com is free for everyone worldwide and streams highlights and replays for all 104 matches.
Live Streaming Options for Ivory Coast Fans
| Platform | Language | Cost | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| New World TV App | French | Subscription required | Exclusive live rights in Ivory Coast |
| FIFA+ | Multiple | Free | Highlights and replays globally |
| RTI.ci | French | Free | Check for free-to-air sub-licensed matches |
| Canal+ Africa App | French | Subscription required | Check local package |
Fans with a VPN can also access BBC iPlayer from the UK or 6play from France. Both carry the tournament in English and French at no extra cost for account holders in those countries.
How to Listen to the World Cup 2026 in Ivory Coast
RTI Radio is the best option for live French commentary. Their streams are free at rti.info.
RFI (Radio France Internationale) covers major football tournaments across Africa in French. It is free online at rfi.fr and available on FM in Abidjan.
BBC World Service provides English commentary online at bbc.co.uk/worldservice and is accessible from anywhere.
Local commercial stations in Abidjan are expected to carry live commentary for Ivory Coast matches. Check FM listings close to each matchday.
Ivory Coast World Cup History & Record
Ivory Coast has reached the World Cup four times: 2006, 2010, 2014 and now 2026. They never made it out of the group stage in any of their first three attempts.
2006 Germany: They faced Argentina, Netherlands and Serbia and Montenegro. Didier Drogba scored the team’s first-ever World Cup goal against Argentina. They won their final group game 3-2 against Serbia but were already eliminated.
2010 South Africa: Another brutal draw. Brazil, Portugal and North Korea. They drew with Portugal and beat North Korea 3-0 but four points was not enough.
2014 Brazil: They beat Japan 2-1 in their opener then lost to Colombia and Greece. Out in the group stage for the third time.
Their all-time top scorer is Didier Drogba with 65 goals in 105 caps. Didier Zokora holds the record for most appearances with 123 caps. Yaya Touré played in all nine World Cup matches across 2006, 2010 and 2014.
Ivory Coast World Cup Predictions and Analysis
Emerse Faé is the coach. He took charge during the 2024 AFCON, stabilized a squad that was on the verge of elimination and went on to win the whole tournament. He earned the full-time job and has built a strong record with the team since.
Franck Kessié is the heartbeat of the midfield. He has played for AC Milan, Barcelona and Al-Ahli and scored the decisive penalty in the 2024 AFCON final.
Evan Ndicka at AS Roma is one of the best left-footed center-backs in Serie A. Simon Adingra gives them pace and creativity wide. Sébastien Haller leads the attack when fit. Amad Diallo of Manchester United adds real flair on the wing and was one of Ivory Coast’s standout players at the 2025 AFCON.
Germany will top the group. The real fight is for second place between Ivory Coast and Ecuador. The June 20 game against Germany in Toronto matters for confidence. The June 25 match against Curaçao in Philadelphia is the most important for their progression.
Reaching the Round of 32 would be the best result in Ivory Coast World Cup history.
Ivory Coast FIFA World Cup 2026 FAQs
What group is Ivory Coast in at the 2026 World Cup?
Group E. Their opponents are Germany, Ecuador and Curaçao.
When is Ivory Coast’s first match at the 2026 World Cup?
Sunday June 14 against Ecuador at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia. Kickoff is 11:00 PM local time in Abidjan and 7:00 PM ET.
Has Ivory Coast ever beaten Germany?
Germany has won both previous meetings: a 3-0 group stage win at the 2006 World Cup and a 4-2 friendly in 2013. Ivory Coast has never beaten Germany.
Who is Ivory Coast’s captain at the 2026 World Cup?
Franck Kessié is expected to lead the side. He is the most experienced player in the current squad and captained the team through key qualifying matches.
What is Ivory Coast’s FIFA ranking?
Ivory Coast is ranked 37th in the FIFA world rankings heading into the tournament.
What language do Ivory Coast players speak?
French is the official language of Ivory Coast and the main language the squad uses. Many players also speak local languages such as Dioula and Baoulé depending on where they grew up.
Will Ivory Coast fans need a visa to attend matches in the USA or Canada?
Yes. Ivory Coast citizens need a valid US visa for matches in the United States and a Canadian visa for the Toronto match on June 20. Apply well in advance as the US visa process can take several weeks.
What is Ivory Coast’s best AFCON finish?
They have won the Africa Cup of Nations three times: 1992, 2015 and 2024. At the 2025 AFCON in Morocco they reached the quarter-finals before losing 3-2 to Egypt in January 2026.
