Ivory Coast and Tunisia have become the first African nations to announce their preliminary squads for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, according to reports from African football media on May 16, 2026. The tournament, co-hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico, is set to begin on June 11, 2026.
The Ivory Coast squad, led by coach Emerse Faé, includes key players such as Sébastien Haller and Franck Kessié. Tunisia's squad, under coach Jalel Kadri, features captain Wahbi Khazri and defender Yassine Meriah. Both teams are expected to finalize their 23-player rosters by the FIFA deadline of May 25, 2026.
Africa has a record nine spots in the 2026 World Cup, up from five in previous tournaments. Other African qualifiers include Morocco, Senegal, Nigeria, Egypt, Cameroon, Ghana, and Algeria. The expanded tournament features 48 teams for the first time.
Ivory Coast, winners of the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations, are drawn in Group F alongside Brazil, Portugal, and New Zealand. Tunisia are in Group H with France, Argentina, and Saudi Arabia. Both teams aim to advance past the group stage for the first time in their histories.
