Ivory Coast Hosts Open Training in Philadelphia Ahead of World Cup Debut Before the World Cup kicks off in Philadelphia, the Ivory Coast national team, known as Les Éléphants, held an open training session at Subaru Park on Friday evening. The event, attended by thousands of fans, marked the team’s first public appearance in the Delaware Valley as they prepare to compete in the tournament. Les Éléphants will open their World Cup campaign on Sunday with a match against Ecuador at Philadelphia Stadium, also known as Lincoln Financial Field. The Ivorian squad has established its base camp at Hotel Du Pont in Wilmington, where they will train at Subaru Park in Chester. This marks the first time Ivory Coast will train in the United States during a World Cup, and it is the only team scheduled to stay and train in the Delaware Valley throughout the tournament. The team’s presence in the region has been met with enthusiasm, with fans expressing excitement about the opportunity to engage with the squad. Ivory Coast manager Emerse Faé addressed the crowd after the training session, acknowledging the warm reception from local supporters. “We were well-received by the delegation here,” Faé said through a translator. “We want to see you on Sunday for the win.” The open training was the second public event organized by the team in Philadelphia, following a friendly match against Union II on Monday, which ended in a 2-0 victory for Les Éléphants. For many fans, the training session offered a chance to familiarize themselves with the team before the tournament begins. Sam Shovers and Joe Santillo, two supporters planning to watch Ivory Coast’s final group-stage match against Curaçao on June 25, described the event as a way to immerse themselves in the World Cup atmosphere.#philadelphia #ivory_coast #emers_fa #les_elephants #subaru_park
France and Ivory Coast Draw 1-1 in Pre-World Cup Friendly as Deschamps Rotates Squad France and Ivory Coast ended their International Friendly 2026 match in a 1-1 draw at the Stade de la Beaujoire in Nantes, France, on June 5, 2026. The encounter, serving as a final tactical rehearsal for both teams ahead of the upcoming World Cup, saw Didier Deschamps and Emerse Faé heavily rotate their squads, leading to a high number of substitutions and a disjointed flow of play. Despite France’s strong form entering the match, including a four-match winning streak against Brazil and Colombia, the game proved competitive, with Ivory Coast’s experienced players challenging the hosts throughout. The match began with France dominating possession, generating an expected goals (xG) tally of 0.61 compared to Ivory Coast’s 0.26. However, the hosts struggled to convert chances, with Kylian Mbappé, Michael Olise, and Rayan Cherki all failing to capitalize on opportunities in the first half. The breakthrough came in the 45th minute when Cherki, looking to secure a starting role, received a precise cross from Ibrahima Konaté and drilled a right-footed strike into the bottom-left corner, giving France a 1-0 lead. Ivory Coast responded swiftly in the second half, equalizing just minutes into the second period. The goal came after a clinical passage of play, with Elye Wahi passing to Nicolas Pépé, who maneuvered past Lucas Digne and Ibrahima Konaté before sliding the ball to Guela Doué. The Ivorian forward calmly finished with a low shot into the bottom-left corner, leaving Mike Maignan with no chance. The goal sent the visitors back on level terms and highlighted their ability to exploit gaps in France’s defense. Both managers continued to rotate their squads aggressively, with Deschamps making multiple changes in the second half.#france #ivory_coast #stade_de_la_beaujoire #didier_deschamps #emers_fa
