Ivory Coast Overview

Paris Saint-Germain have identified Strasbourg defender Guela Doue as the ideal candidate to strengthen their defensive options ahead of the upcoming campaign. The French champions are eager to secure a reliable right-back who can provide high-quality cover for established star Achraf Hakimi following a barren search last summer.

Nicolas Pepe proved to be the hero as Ivory Coast finally ended their World Cup group stage hoodoo with a comfortable 2-0 victory over Curacao. The former Arsenal winger rose to the occasion in Philadelphia to secure his nation's place in the last 32. It marks a historic milestone for the Elephants, who had never previously progressed beyond the opening round of the tournament.

Excitement is growing as we move through the group stages at the 2026 World Cup and, throughout the showpiece tournament in North America, GOAL, in association with eToro, is tracking the value of some of the world's most sought-after talents. Will their price rise or plummet? Follow our unique player value tracker to find out...

The 2026 World Cup is underway and so is the race for the prestigious Golden Boot - the award given to the tournament's top scorer. There's a long road ahead as 48 nations battle for the top prize, but which star will take home the illustrious award? Here are GOAL's predicted candidates for the prize as we keep track of the tournament's most prolific stars