The Elephants secure their ticket to the 2026 World Cup after a flawless group stage at the U17 AFCON

The Ivory Coast U17 national team secured their qualification for the quarter-finals of the U17 AFCON and the FIFA U17 World Cup 2026 after a 2-2 draw against Uganda on May 19, 2026. The Ivorians finished first in Group B with seven points, having won their first two matches against Cameroon (2-0) and DR Congo (1-0). Despite Uganda's late equalizer, the young Elephants have strong ambitions for the rest of the tournament. This performance marks a return of Ivorian football to the global stage in the U17 category.