Emerse Faé is leading the Côte d'Ivoire national team as head coach for the 2026 FIFA World Cup [1].
Faé's transition from player to manager represents a full-circle moment for the national team. His leadership comes as the squad seeks to build on recent continental success and establish a new era of dominance on the global stage.
Faé was previously a member of the 2006 "Dream Team," where he was one of the youngest players in the squad [2]. Now, he returns to the tournament in a different capacity, having revealed a 26-player squad for this summer's global showpiece [3].
The national team, nicknamed the Elephants, enters the competition with significant momentum. The squad is coming off a victory at the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations and a dominant qualifying campaign [4]. These results have provided the team with renewed confidence as they attempt to make a historic performance at the World Cup [4].
This iteration of the team differs significantly from the legendary squads of the past. With Didier Drogba and Yaya Touré long retired, it is a new Côte d'Ivoire that is returning to the World Cup [5]. The current team must navigate the challenges of a tournament hosted across three nations, Canada, Mexico, and the U.S. [3].
FIFA said that Faé has revealed his party for the tournament [3]. The focus for the coach and his players remains on translating their regional success into a deep run in the world's most prestigious football competition.
“Emerse Faé was one of the youngest squad members of the 2006 team.”
The appointment and success of Emerse Faé signify a generational shift for Côte d'Ivoire. By moving past the era of iconic stars like Drogba and Touré, the team is attempting to prove that its 2023 African title was not an isolated achievement but the start of a sustainable period of competitiveness on the world stage.
