On Tuesday 30 June (1 p.m. local time) at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas, Ivory Coast take on Norway for a place in the round of 16 at the 2026 World Cup. For the Elephants, it is already a first: the nation had never before reached a World Cup knockout stage.
Runners-up in group E behind Germany, Emerse Faé’s side built their qualification on character: a 1-0 win over Ecuador on matchday one, a narrow 2-1 defeat to Germany, then a controlled 2-0 victory against Curaçao with a Nicolas Pépé brace. Ivory Coast even became the second African nation in history to open the scoring in all three of their group games. Around senior figures such as Franck Kessié and Amad Diallo, it is 19-year-old gem Yan Diomandé — already courted by Europe’s biggest clubs — who carries the hopes of a whole people, from Abidjan to the diaspora.
Standing in their way is a Norway side back at the World Cup after a 28-year absence, and one the bookmakers make favourites. Ståle Solbakken can lean on a top-class core: Erling Haaland, already one of the tournament’s standout men, captain Martin Ødegaard and young winger Antonio Nusa, all rested in their final group match. The Elephants will have to raise their game to topple the Norwegian machine and extend a World Cup that is already historic for Africa. The winner will face the victor of Brazil–Japan in the round of 16. Live on beIN Sports in France, and on RTI and NCI in Ivory Coast.