S. Adingra

Ivory Coast arrive at the 2026 World Cup as reigning African champions, and the squad list has already been confirmed and widely circulated in the build-up. Yet our AI model is unsentimental about the bigger picture: it gives the Elephants a 0.0% chance of lifting the trophy, with only a 1.3% probability of reaching the semi-finals and a 0.2% chance of making the final. Those figures place them firmly among the tournament's outsiders rather than its contenders, despite the pedigree of a continental crown.

The attacking talent, however, is genuine. Yan Diomande has been excellent at RB Leipzig with 12 goals and 8 assists and a standout 7.72 rating, making him the clear focal point. Nicolas Pépé continues to contribute at Villarreal with 8 goals and 8 assists, while Pierre Guiagon adds 9 goals at Charleroi. In midfield, Bryan Touré offers creativity with 9 assists at Hoffenheim. The blend of pace and end product is encouraging, even if the rest of the spine looks less proven at elite level.

Drawn in Group E, Ivory Coast have the firepower to escape the first round if Diomande maintains his club form. Beyond that, the knockout rounds project as a steep climb against deeper, more balanced squads. A realistic verdict has them as a team capable of springing a surprise on their day but ultimately likely to bow out by the round of 16 or quarter-finals.