Côte d’Ivoire v Ecuador: World Cup 2026 – live

It is more than a decade since Didier Drogba, Kolo Touré and Yaya Touré roamed the field for Côte d’Ivoire, and it has been some years since a player you’ve certainly heard of was playing for Ecuador. Both nations bring contrasting recent histories to this tournament.

Japan twice fought back from a one-goal deficit to secure a 2-2 draw with the Netherlands. In Group E, debutants Curaçao celebrated their first World Cup goal when Livano Comenencia levelled in the 21st minute after Felix Nmecha’s early strike, but Kai Havertz and Germany dominated the remainder of the match at Houston Stadium.

Côte d’Ivoire return to the world stage after the early-2010s golden period. They lack the same star power but still feature recognisable faces from Europe’s top leagues; the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations winners usually line up in a 4-3-3, though the holding midfield spot remains in question.

côte d’ivoire, ecuador, world cup, 2026, didier drogba, kolo touré, yaya touré, livano comenencia, kai havertz, curaçao