Ivory Coast have officially begun preparations for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, with the Elephants holding their first training session in Paris as coach Emerse Fae starts assembling his squad ahead of the tournament.
Players began arriving in the French capital over the weekend, with 14 members of the squad taking part in Monday’s opening session at the INSEP high-performance training centre.
The gathering marks the beginning of an important phase for the reigning African champions as they seek to build momentum ahead of the World Cup.
Ivory Coast is among several francophone African nations hoping to make a major impression on the global stage in 2026.
According to reports, the squad has been based at the Pullman Hotel in Paris since Saturday, although the full group has not yet assembled.
Several key players have already reported to camp, including Franck Kessie, Simon Adingra, Seko Fofana, Yahia Fofana, Emmanuel Agbadou and Oumar Diakite.
Young talents such as Yan Diomande and Bazoumana Toure are also among the early arrivals as Ivory Coast continue blending established internationals with emerging prospects.
Monday’s session was mainly focused on physical recovery and light work after the end of the European club season.
Such opening sessions are commonly designed to gradually prepare players’ bodies before more intense tactical and physical exercises begin later in camp.
The coaching staff also used the session to evaluate the fitness condition of the group as preparations begin to intensify.
With some members of the squad still unavailable, Emerse Faé has temporarily added several young players initially expected to feature at the Maurice Revello Tournament.
Malick Yalcouye, Luc Zogbe, Patrick Zabi and Yvann Konan joined the camp to help maintain training intensity during the opening days.
The decision also reflects Ivory Coast’s growing emphasis on youth development and long-term squad planning following their recent continental success.
One of the final expected arrivals is striker Elye Wahi, who remains involved with OGC Nice in the play-offs and is therefore due to join the squad later than the rest of the team.
For Ivory Coast supporters, the camp represents another important chapter in the revival of the national side under Emerse Faé.
The former international guided the Elephants to continental success and is now tasked with preparing the team for the biggest stage in world football.
Holding the training camp in Paris also underlines the deep football links between Ivory Coast and France, where many Ivorian internationals either play professionally or developed during their youth careers.
As more players arrive in the coming days, preparations are expected to become more demanding, with the Elephants aiming to build the fitness, chemistry and tactical organisation needed for a strong World Cup campaign.
