FIFA names Côte d’Ivoire youngest squad for 2026 World Cup

FIFA has officially recognized Côte d'Ivoire as the youngest squad participating in the 2026 World Cup, highlighting their average age at 25.8 years. The spotlight on the Ivorian team came as they geared up for their first match in the expanded 48-team tournament, facing Ecuador on Monday. Following a golden era marked by legends like Didier Drogba and Yaya Touré, coach Emerse Faé has cultivated a dynamic and emerging team. He has placed his trust in young talent, a strategy that led him to omit some veteran players, including the 33-year-old forward Wilfried Zaha. The squad boasts a wealth of talent from Europe's premier leagues. RB Leipzig forward Yan Diomande, born in November 2006, stands as the youngest player. He is part of an exciting generation that includes players such as Bazoumana Touré, Christ Inao Oulai, Evann Guessand, Guela Doué, Amad Diallo, Mohamed Koné, Oumar Diakité, Elye Wahi, Simon Adingra, Ange-Yoan Bonny, and Ousmane Diomande. Notably, all these players are under 25 years old. Other nations with notably young squads in the tournament include Ecuador, Morocco, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Tunisia, Spain, Norway, and South Africa, all with average ages around 26.

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Introducing Côte d’Ivoire… Youngest squad at the FIFA World Cup 2026