Côte d'Ivoire

Côte d'Ivoire, also known as Ivory Coast, were eliminated from the 2026 FIFA World Cup group stage on 20 June following a 2-1 defeat to Germany in Toronto. Captain Franck Kessié gave them the lead, but Deniz Undav came off the bench to score twice, including a 94th-minute winner, to send the Elephants home. Their participation was already overshadowed by access politics: Ivorian nationals face both a full US travel ban and the Visa Bond Pilot Programme requiring up to $15,000 per person, making match attendance in the United States effectively impossible for essentially all supporters. The State Department confirmed in April it has no data on how these restrictions affect attendance.

Côte d'Ivoire is West Africa's economic anchor, with a population of approximately 27 million and an economy built on cocoa: the country is the world's largest producer. Politically, it is governed by President Alassane Ouattara and has stabilised significantly since the civil conflicts of the early 2000s and 2010-11, though political tensions persist. Abidjan functions as the commercial capital despite Yamoussoukro holding official status.

The Elephants are one of Africa's strongest footballing nations. They have won the Africa Cup of Nations three times (1992, 2015, 2023), with their 2023 title coming on home soil under coach Emerse Faé. The current squad qualified for a fourth World Cup appearance. The 2026 group exit continues a difficult World Cup record for a team that punches above its weight in continental competition. The double barrier Ivorian supporters faced, travel ban plus bond requirement, made their case the starkest test of FIFA's claim that the tournament would be open to all.