Historic triumph for the Elephants: Côte d’Ivoire reach World Cup playoffs for the first time

The Côte d’Ivoire national team pulled off a true sensation at the 2026 World Cup, advancing to the tournament playoffs for the first time in their history. In a decisive third-round match, the Elephants confidently defeated Curaçao, allowing them to finish the group stage with 6 points and secure a well-deserved second place in their group.

Details: Previously, Côte d’Ivoire had participated in the World Cup finals three times—in 2006, 2010, and 2014. Despite boasting star players and delivering vibrant performances, the Ivorians always fell just short of progressing past the group stage. This year, however, relentless determination, a crucial victory over Curaçao, and consistent play throughout the group phase have rewritten history, giving the entire nation a long-awaited celebration.

This historic breakthrough is already being hailed as the crowning achievement of the current generation. Now, with 6 points in the bag, the Elephants are preparing for the knockout stage, where they’ll aim to prove themselves as the tournament’s biggest surprise and continue to captivate the football world.

It’s worth noting that in the Round of 32, they will face either France or Norway.