FIFA names Côte d’Ivoire youngest World Cup squad

FIFA has highlighted Côte d’Ivoire as the youngest squad at the ongoing 2026 World Cup, noting an average age of 25.8 years in its official tournament update on its X handle. The announcement comes as the Elephants prepare for their opening Group stage match against Ecuador in the expanded 48-team tournament co-hosted by Canada, Mexico, […]

FIFA has highlighted Côte d’Ivoire as the youngest squad at the ongoing 2026 World Cup, noting an average age of 25.8 years in its official tournament update on its X handle.
The announcement comes as the Elephants prepare for their opening Group stage match against Ecuador in the expanded 48-team tournament co-hosted by Canada, Mexico, and the United States.
Coach Emerse Faé has assembled a youthful squad built from Europe’s top leagues, continuing the post-golden generation rebuild after the era of Didier Drogba and Yaya Touré.
Several experienced names were omitted, including Wilfried Zaha, while teenagers like Yan Diomande represent the new wave of talent driving the team’s future.
Diomande, born in 2006, is the youngest player in the squad, alongside emerging stars from clubs such as Manchester United, Inter Milan, and Sporting CP.
Other youthful teams at the tournament include Ecuador, Morocco, Spain, and South Africa, all maintaining average squad ages under 27.
FIFA says the youthful composition reflects a broader generational shift across global football, with emerging talents increasingly replacing established veterans on the world stage as nations prioritize speed, energy, and long-term squad development ahead of future international competitions. The Elephants now focus fully on Ecuador fixture.