Country profile
Ivory Coast
Republic of Côte d'Ivoire
Key facts
Capital
Yamoussoukro
Population
28,200,000
Confederation
CAF
FIFA code
CIV
Overview
Ivory Coast — officially Côte d'Ivoire — is a West African powerhouse on the Atlantic coast, bordered by Ghana, Liberia, Guinea, Mali and Burkina Faso. Renowned for cocoa, vibrant markets and the soaring Basilica of Yamoussoukro, it pairs economic dynamism with deep cultural richness.
Football is the nation's unifying heartbeat. From the bustling streets of Abidjan to rural pitches of dust and dreams, the game binds together a country of more than 70 ethnic groups under the banner of Les Éléphants.
Football culture
Football here is religion, with the Drogba generation immortalised for famously helping pause a civil conflict through the sport. Local academies like ASEC Mimosas' famed youth setup produce a relentless stream of talent for Europe's biggest leagues.
World Cup history
Ivory Coast debuted at the 2006 World Cup and qualified again in 2010 and 2014, repeatedly drawn into brutal 'groups of death'. Despite golden generations featuring Didier Drogba and the Touré brothers, they have never advanced beyond the group stage.
Location
Did you know
- Didier Drogba's 2005 plea is credited with helping halt the nation's civil war.
- The Yamoussoukro basilica is one of the largest churches in the world.
- Ivory Coast is the planet's leading producer of cocoa beans.
- The Elephants won the AFCON in 1992, 2015 and a dramatic 2024 on home soil.
- ASEC Mimosas' academy produced Yaya and Kolo Touré and Salomon Kalou.
From Wikipedia
Republic of Côte d'Ivoire fields one of the 48 national teams contesting the 2026 FIFA World Cup across the United States, Mexico and Canada.
Source: Wikipedia →