FIFA has named Côte d’Ivoire the youngest squad at the 2026 World Cup. The announcement was made on the tournament’s official X handle on Sunday as the Elephants prepared for their opening match in the expanded 48-team tournament co-hosted by Canada, Mexico and the United States.
Côte d’Ivoire will face Ecuador on Monday in their first game. Coach Emerse Faé has built a dynamic team around youth, choosing to leave out veterans including forward Wilfried Zaha, 33, who is currently on loan at Charlotte FC from Galatasaray.
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The current squad marks a shift from the golden era led by Didier Drogba and Yaya Touré, focusing instead on a new generation of talent from Europe’s top leagues.
RB Leipzig forward Yan Diomande, born on November 14, 2006, is the youngest player in the Ivorian team. He is part of an exciting group that includes Bazoumana Touré of TSG Hoffenheim, Christ Inao Oulai of Trabzonspor, Crystal Palace’s Evann Guessand, Strasbourg’s Guela Doué, Manchester United’s Amad Diallo, and Monaco’s Simon Adingra.
The list also features Sporting CP defender Ousmane Diomande, Nice striker Elye Wahi, Inter Milan forward Ange-Yoan Bonny, and Cercle Brugge’s Oumar Diakité, all yet to turn 25.
Other nations with young squads include Ecuador, Morocco, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Tunisia, Spain, Norway and South Africa.
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