World Cup 2026: Yan Diomande and Cote d'Ivoire chase history against Ecuador in Philadelphia

On the roadworthy to Ecuador for their archetypal World Cup 2026 fixture, Ivory Coast caput into a clash betwixt the 2 youngest squads astatine the tournament.

In the aboriginal hours of Monday morning, Ivory Coast volition conscionable Ecuador astatine the Lincoln Financial Field successful Philadelphia to motorboat their Group E campaign.

In what is their 4th World Cup quality aft 2006, 2010 and 2014, the Elephants are targeting a historical archetypal qualification for the knockout phase. To execute that, they volition look to commencement with a triumph successful the face-off betwixt the youngest squads astatine this edition.

Ivory Coast: the youngest squad astatine World Cup 2026, conscionable up of Ecuador

With an mean property of 25.35, the Ivorians person the youngest squad astatine this World Cup 2026, conscionable up of the Ecuadorians (25.58). Only 4 members of the squad are 30 oregon older (Ghislain Konan, Jean-Michael Seri, Seko Fofana, Nicolas Pepe), portion 9 are 23 oregon younger.

The young brigade includes Yan Diomande, acceptable to go the youngest subordinate successful his country's past to diagnostic astatine a World Cup astatine 19, Christ Inao Oulai (20), Bazoumana Toure (20), Oumar Diakite (22), Ousmane Diomande (22), Ange-Yoan Bonny (22), Guela Doue (23), Amad Diallo (23) and Elye Wahi (23).

Ivory Coast connected a bully run, but Ecuador successful adjacent amended form

Conquerors of France (2-1) successful their warm-up connected June 4 successful Nantes, Ivory Coast person truthful acold built beardown momentum, successful enactment with their 1-0 triumph implicit Scotland and 4-0 triumph implicit South Korea successful March.

For their part, Ecuador person done adjacent better. Under the guidance of manager Sebastian Beccacece, La Tricolor are unbeaten successful 19 matches. They finished 2nd successful the South American qualifying radical up of Brazil, beating Argentina 1-0 on the way. They besides boast the strongest antiaircraft grounds (just 5 goals conceded successful 18 matches).

In March, Ecuador besides gave a pugnacious clip to Africa's top-ranked side, Morocco, successful a 1-1 friendly. They led earlier the Atlas Lions snatched an equaliser successful the 88th minute.

Experience and pedigree springiness Ecuador the edge

In presumption of experience, Ecuador person a flimsy edge. The South Americans person 1 much World Cup quality than Ivory Coast, including a circular of 16 decorativeness successful 2006, the Elephants' champion show to date.

Having besides been astatine the 2022 finals, Ecuador tin besides telephone upon much caller tourney acquisition than Ivory Coast, who had not featured astatine a World Cup for 12 years.

Although Ivory Coast are nary slouches themselves, Ecuador person respective world-class players, including Paris Saint-Germain centre-back Willian Pacho, a two-time European champion, his teammate Piero Hincapie, who precocious played successful the Champions League last with Arsenal, and Chelsea motor Moises Caicedo.

Elephants brimming with ambition, with oregon without Ndicka

Ivory Coast are apt to beryllium without Evan Ndicka for the match. The AS Roma defender has not yet recovered from a musculus injury. That has not stopped his compatriots from mounting retired their ambitions and stating they volition springiness it everything, arsenic skipper Franck Kessie told outlet Ivoirezine.

Kessie said: 'When you spell to a competition, you spell determination to triumph it. We are not among the favourites, but we volition springiness it everything we have. We did not travel present for tourism. We person a precise competitory squad with immoderate precise large players. We judge successful ourselves and we volition springiness it everything to bash honour to the Ivorian radical and to the full of Africa.'