When the Ivory Coast hoisted the Africa Cup of Nations trophy on home soil in 2024, it felt like the crowning achievement of a generation. However, less than two years later, Les Elephants arrive at the 2026 World Cup having completely torn up the script.
This is a team in the middle of a ruthless, unprecedented squad turnover. A side so entirely transformed that only 14 players from that historic 2024 triumph made it to the most recent AFCON tournament in late 2025.
What is left behind is arguably the most raw, exciting and terrifyingly talented young squad in African football. Packed with players still under 25, the Ivorian blueprint is built for sustained dominance. But as they arrive in North America, they do so as a beautifully chaotic wild card - a side just as capable of making a deep tournament run as crashing out early.
To map out what to expect from Africa’s most unpredictable outfit, we sat down with African football expert Ali Howorth for the latest episode of the Make Football Great Again podcast. For Howorth, the Ivory Coast are a tactical roller-coaster - spoiled for choice in defence, electric on the wings and anchored by a young midfield prodigy destined for the Premier League.
