Côte d'Ivoire, ranked sixth in Africa and 34th globally, is preparing for its fourth World Cup appearance in the expanded 48-team tournament in the United States, Mexico, and Canada. The Elephants, who first qualified in 2006 with a squad featuring stars like Didier Drogba and Yaya Touré, famously appealed for peace in their war-torn nation during that tournament. Despite subsequent group stage eliminations in 2010 and 2014, and missing the 2018 and 2022 editions, the team, now managed by Hervé Renard, recently won the Africa Cup of Nations in 2023. Head coach Emerse Faé is optimistic about the 2026 campaign, stating his ambition is to win, not just participate, and the expanded format offers a better chance of reaching the knockout stages for the first time.