Ivory Coast World Cup Squad Omits Wilfried Zaha in 2026

Ivory Coast has announced a 26-man squad for the 2026 World Cup, with Wilfried Zaha missing out on a spot.

Ivory Coast's 26-Man Squad Features Four Premier League Players Ivory Coast has named four Premier League players in their 26-man squad for the World Cup this summer, but Wilfried Zaha, a 33-year-old forward, has not made the cut. Wolves defender Emmanuel Agbadou, Nottingham Forest midfielder Ibrahim Sangare, and forwards Amad Diallo and Evann Guessand, who play for Manchester United and Aston Villa respectively, have been selected. The team has also chosen Seko Fofana, Jean Michael Seri, Simon Adingra, and Nicolas Pepe, all of whom have English top-flight experience. ## Wilfried Zaha, 36-Cap Winger, Misses Out on World Cup Spot Zaha, who was selected for the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) earlier this season, has not been included in the World Cup squad. The 36-cap winger is currently on loan with Charlotte FC in Major League Soccer from Galatasaray. Zaha's exclusion from the World Cup squad comes as a surprise, given his experience in international competitions. ## Head Coach Emerse Fae Announces World Cup Squad Head coach Emerse Fae has selected the 26-man squad, which includes several players with experience in English top-flight football. The team will face Ecuador, Germany, and Curacao in the group stage of the World Cup. The competition will run from 11 June to 19 July, and Ivory Coast will open their campaign on 14 June against Ecuador. ## World Cup Squad Includes Experienced Players The World Cup squad features several experienced players, including RB Leipzig's Yan Diomande, who has been linked with a move to the Premier League this summer. The team also includes the uncapped Ange-Yoan Bonny of Inter Milan, who has completed a nationality transfer. Bonny, 22, has represented France Under-21s and is following the same path as new national team-mate Elye Wahi, who won his first cap in March. ## Players Left Out of World Cup Squad Several players have been left out of the World Cup squad, including veteran defender Willy Boly and former West Ham striker Sebastien Haller. Haller scored the winning goal in the AFCON final in 2024, but has not been selected for the World Cup. Ivory Coast's World Cup squad is as follows: ## Ivory Coast's 2026 World Cup Squad | Goalkeepers: Yahia Fofana (Rizespor), Mohamed Kone (Charleroi), Alban Lafont (Panathinaikos) | | Defenders: Emmanuel Agbadou (Wolverhampton Wanderers), Clement Akpa (AJ Auxerre), Ousmane Diomande (Sporting), Guela Doue (Racing Strasbourg), Ghislain Konan (Gil Vicente), Odilon Kossonou (Atalanta), Evan Ndicka (AS Roma), Wilfried Singo (Galatasaray) | | Midfielders: Seko Fofana (Stade Rennais), Parfait Guiagon (Charleroi), Franck Kessie (Al Ahli), Christ Oulai (Trabzonspor), Ibrahim Sangare (Nottingham Forest), Jean-Michael Seri (NK Maribor) | | Forwards: Simon Adingra (AS Monaco), Ange-Yoan Bonny (Inter Milan), Amad Diallo (Manchester United), Oumar Diakite (Cercle Brugge), Yan Diomande (RB Leipzig), Evann Guessand (Aston Villa), Nicolas Pepe (Villarreal), Bazoumana Toure (Hoffenheim), Elye Wahi (Nice) |