World Cup 2026: Côte d'Ivoire's official lineup against Norway

30.06.26 FT World Cup

Ivory Coast

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Norway

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Côte d'Ivoire and Norway face off for the very first time at 17:00 GMT in the round of 16 of the World Cup. Here are the starting lineups for this unprecedented clash at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, with Venezuelan referee Jesus Valenzuela in charge.

Yahia Fofana stands between the posts. Emmanuel Agbadou returns to the heart of defense in place of Ousmane Diomande, lining up alongside Odilon Kossounou.

Despite a strong showing against Curaçao (2-0), Christopher Auberi loses his spot to the experienced Ghislain Konan on the left flank. Jouela Douh makes his third consecutive start on the right.

In midfield, stability is the name of the game. The Kessié–Sangaré double pivot will anchor the play, while the team's gem, Chris Inao Oulai, is tasked with creating chances and supplying the forwards. Up front, Yan Diomande starts on the left, Nicolas Pépé—fresh off a brace against Curaçao—takes the right, and Ange Bonny leads the line as the main striker.

Côte d'Ivoire: Yahia Fofana – Jouela Douh, Odilon Kossounou, Emmanuel Agbadou, Ghislain Konan – Franck Kessié, Ibrahim Sangaré, Chris Inao Oulai – Nicolas Pépé, Ange-Yoan Bonny, Yan Diomande. Amad Diallo is the most notable absentee from the Elephants' squad.

On the Norwegian side, coach Ståle Solbakken has restored all his key players to the starting eleven. He had rotated the entire squad, including the goalkeeper, in their 1-4 defeat to France. But tonight, Erling Haaland, Alexander Sørloth, and Leipzig's gem Antonio Nusa are all back. Martin Ødegaard will slot in behind this "realistic" attacking trio, as coach Emerse Fae described them in the pre-match press conference.

Norway: Ørjan Nyland; Marcus Holmgren Pedersen, Kristoffer Ajer, Leo Skiri Østigård Heggem, Julian Ryerson Wolf; Sander Berge, Patrick Berg, Martin Ødegaard; Antonio Nusa, Erling Braut Haaland, Alexander Sørloth

Nafongo TRAORE |

News Editorfr, ar, en

Nafongon Moussa TRAORE, Burkinabè de 25 ans, est passionné de football, est rédacteur pour Foot Africa et commentateur pour BurkiFoot.

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