Ivory Coast face Ecuador in a crucial Group E encounter as both sides sought to make a positive start to their 2026 FIFA World Cup campaign.
Ecuador, ranked 23rd in the world, entered the tournament hoping to improve on their performance at the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar, where they were eliminated in the group stage despite a promising start.
The South Americans arrived with a blend of experience and youthful talent, aiming to secure one of the two qualification spots from a highly competitive group.
For Ivory Coast, ranked 33rd globally, the tournament marks a return to football's biggest stage after missing out on the last two World Cups. The Elephants have been eager to re-establish themselves among the world's elite and carry into the competition the confidence gained from recent successes on the African continent.
Both teams know that a positive result would be vital in a group that also features Germany and Curaçao. Germany laid down an early marker in the group by thrashing Curaçao 7-1 earlier in the day, sending a strong message to their rivals and immediately taking control of the Group E standings.
Watch and follow live updates of the game below:
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