Confidence will be high in both camps as Ivory Coast and Ecuador begin their World Cup campaigns in Philadelphia on Sunday.
It’s been a while since the Elephants can call on real stars like Didier Drogba and Yaya Toure, but Emerse Fae’s side come into the competition determined to start by winning their last four games.
The African side have never made it past the group stage in three attempts but, given the extended approach this time around, there will be plenty of confidence that they can make history in North America.
Meanwhile, Ecuador has had a taste of playoff football in the World Cup when it was eliminated by England in the Round of 16 twenty years ago.
However, this time they boast their biggest ever squad, with the likes of Chelsea’s Moises Caicedo, Premier League winner Piero Hincapie, and Willian Pacho, a two-time Champions League winner with Paris Saint-Germain, among their ranks.
And, in junior Kendry Paez, La Tri has a potential star.
Sebastian Beccacece’s men did very well in qualifying, reaching the final behind only holders Argentina and will arrive in the US aiming to change a few heads.
Ivory Coast club news
The big news in the Ivory Coast camp is the absence of Amad Diallo from the starting line-up.
The Manchester United man only makes the bench, while RB Leipzig’s highly sought-after winger Yan Diomande starts from wide.
Ivory Coast XI: Yahia Fofana, Guela Doue, Singo, Agbadou, Konan, Diomande, Seko Fofana, Kessie, Toure, Pepe, Wahi
Ecuador team news
Premier League stars Caicedo and Hincapie are part of a strong Ecuador squad that also includes PSG’s Pacho.
Juventus and Inter defender Joel Ordonez starts in defence, while 36-year-old Enner Valencia, who is very experienced, will lead the line for the South American side.
Ecuador XI: Galindez, Ordonez, Pacho, Hincapie, Vite, Caicedo, Franco, Minda, Yeboah, Valencia, Plata
Where to watch Ivory Coast v Ecuador: TV and online streams
Ivory Coast vs Ecuador kicks off on Sunday at midnight UK time. You can watch it on BBC 1 and stream it on iPlayer.
Click HERE for the full World Cup TV guide
Ivory Coast v Ecuador statistics
- Ivory Coast will be playing in the World Cup for the fourth time, and for the first time since 2014. It has not yet progressed to the group stage.
- Ivory Coast have not conceded a single goal in their 10 2026 World Cup qualifiers; they were one of only two teams in the CAF qualifiers to do so along with Tunisia.
- 15 different players have scored for Ivory Coast in the 2026 CAF World Cup qualifiers, more than any other country (Tunisia is next on 14).
- This will be the fifth time Ecuador participates in the World Cup. The last time they reached the knockout stages was in 2006 – they were knocked out by England in the round of 16.
- Only two of Ecuador’s last 13 World Cup matches ended in a draw (W5 L6). They have lost just one of the last five games, playing against Senegal in the last World Cup (1-2).
- Ecuador finished second behind Argentina in CONMEBOL qualifying for the 2026 World Cup, equaling their best ever performance in a qualifying campaign for the tournament (also in 2002).
- They also boasted the strongest defense in the division, conceding just five goals in 18 games, and losing the fewest matches (2 defeats against Argentina and Brazil).
