Ivory Coast World Cup 2026 full schedule — Les Elephants fixtures after beating France 2-1. Group E matches against Germany, Ecuador and Curacao.
Published: June 7, 2026 | Author: Hemim SK
Ivory Coast entered the 2026 World Cup pre-tournament period as one of the most respected African sides — and left it as the story everyone is talking about. On June 4, Les Elephants beat World Cup favourites France 2-1 in Nantes in one of the biggest pre-tournament shocks in recent international football history. Gbamin Doue equalised in the 53rd minute before Aboubakar Diallo scored the winner on 84 minutes. France. At home. 2-1.
As noted in our World Cup 2026 Warm-Up Friendlies guide, Fabrizio Romano’s reaction — “WHAT ARE IVORY COAST COOKING?!” — captured exactly what the entire football world felt. Now Group E, which looked like Germany’s comfortable path to the knockout rounds, has become one of the most watched groups in the tournament.
Group E — Germany, Ivory Coast, Ecuador, Curacao — is analysed in detail in our Most Unfair Groups at World Cup 2026 article, where we described it as Germany’s gift of a draw before Ivory Coast’s win over France changed everything.
Ivory Coast World Cup 2026 — Key Facts
Group: E
Opponents: Germany, Ecuador, Curacao
FIFA ranking: 44th in the world
Coach: Emerse Fae
Key players: Sebastien Haller, Simon Adingra, Serge Aurier
Pre-tournament shock: Beat France 2-1 on June 4 — one of the biggest upsets of the pre-tournament window
Back-to-back Africa Cup of Nations champions: 2023 and 2024
Ivory Coast Group Stage Schedule — All 3 Matches
Match 1 — Ivory Coast vs Ecuador
Date: Sunday June 14, 2026
Kickoff: 4pm ET / 9pm BST
Venue: Philadelphia Stadium (Lincoln Financial Field), Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
TV USA: Fox / Telemundo
TV UK: BBC / ITV
Ivory Coast’s opening match against Ecuador in Philadelphia is their most important fixture before the Germany game. As covered in our Ecuador World Cup 2026 Schedule, La Tri are organised, physical and have Moises Caicedo — Chelsea’s dynamic midfielder — as their most important player.
Ivory Coast arrive at this match with extraordinary momentum — the entire football world is talking about their win over France. Simon Adingra, who was one of the standout players in the pre-tournament period, will be the danger man on the right side. Sebastien Haller leads the attack with physical presence and goalscoring quality.
Prediction: Ivory Coast 2-1 Ecuador
Match 2 — Germany vs Ivory Coast
Date: Saturday June 20, 2026
Kickoff: 4pm ET / 9pm BST
Venue: Toronto Stadium (BMO Field), Toronto, Ontario, Canada
TV USA: Fox / Telemundo
TV UK: BBC / ITV
The match that has become the most anticipated fixture in Group E — and arguably one of the most eagerly awaited group stage matches of the entire tournament after the pre-tournament results. Germany vs the team that just beat France. As discussed in our Germany World Cup 2026 Schedule, Die Mannschaft looked excellent in their 4-0 win over Finland but Ivory Coast’s form demands respect.
Germany’s quality and experience should give them the edge. Florian Wirtz and Jamal Musiala are two of the most talented players at the tournament. But Ivory Coast beat France. They can beat Germany on their day.
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Prediction: Germany 2-1 Ivory Coast
Match 3 — Ivory Coast vs Curacao
Date: Thursday June 26, 2026
Kickoff: TBC
Venue: TBC
Ivory Coast vs Curacao — as covered in our Curacao World Cup 2026 Schedule, the Caribbean island nation of 156,000 people are the smallest World Cup team ever. Ivory Coast should win comfortably and secure their qualification.
Prediction: Ivory Coast 3-0 Curacao
Ivory Coast’s Africa Cup of Nations Double
Ivory Coast have won back-to-back Africa Cup of Nations titles — in 2023 and 2024 — making them African football’s dominant force entering the 2026 World Cup. That tournament experience and winning mentality runs through every player in the squad and explains why they are able to produce performances like their win over France in pre-tournament.
Need To Know
What group is Ivory Coast in at World Cup 2026?
Ivory Coast are in Group E alongside Germany, Ecuador and Curacao.
When does Ivory Coast play their first World Cup 2026 match?
Ivory Coast vs Ecuador on Sunday June 14 at 4pm ET / 9pm BST at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia.
Did Ivory Coast really beat France before the World Cup?
Yes. Ivory Coast beat France 2-1 in Nantes on June 4, 2026 in a pre-tournament friendly — one of the biggest pre-tournament shocks in recent international football history. Goals from Gbamin Doue and Aboubakar Diallo secured a famous win for Les Elephants.
Conclusion
Ivory Coast arrive at the 2026 World Cup as one of African football’s most dangerous teams — with Africa Cup double glory, a famous win over France and a squad full of European league quality. June 14 vs Ecuador begins their World Cup campaign.
Read next: Germany World Cup 2026 Schedule — Die Mannschaft Full Group E Campaign
Related: World Cup 2026 Warm-Up Friendlies — France 1-2 Ivory Coast and Every Pre-Tournament Result
Can Ivory Coast qualify from Group E after their stunning win over France — and do they have what it takes to go deep into the knockout rounds? Tell us in the comments!