French-Ivorian defender Ismaël Doukouré could miss out on Ivory Coast’s squad for the 2026 World Cup as uncertainty continues to surround his international eligibility ahead of coach Emerse Faé’s official squad announcement.
The RC Strasbourg captain had recently decided to commit his international future to Ivory Coast after previously representing France at youth level.
The 22-year-old’s decision was welcomed by many supporters of the Elephants, who hoped to see the highly rated defender included in the squad for the tournament in the United States next month.
However, doubts remain over whether the nationality switch process will be completed in time.
According to reports from Lifemag-ci.com, FIFA has not yet validated Doukouré’s request to change his sporting nationality, leaving his availability for the World Cup in serious doubt.
The delay is reportedly linked to administrative procedures involving the French Football Federation. Details provided by the player’s father, Moustapha Doukouré, suggest the required documents have still not been forwarded to FIFA to finalize the process.
Faced with the situation, the defender’s father admitted he was concerned about the chances of the procedure being completed before the final squad deadline.
“The problem lies with the French Federation. It’s going to be tight for the World Cup.”
The timing of the delay presents a significant challenge for Ivory Coast coach Emerse Faé, who is preparing to unveil his squad on Friday, May 15.
With little time remaining before the official announcement, it now appears increasingly unlikely that Doukouré will be included unless the administrative process is completed quickly. Despite that, there remains a possibility that the situation could change before FIFA’s final deadline.
Doukouré has enjoyed a strong rise in French football in recent seasons and has established himself as one of Strasbourg’s key players.
His leadership qualities were further highlighted after becoming captain of the Ligue 1 side despite his young age.
The central defender remains under contract with RC Strasbourg until June 2028 and is regarded as one of the promising defensive talents eligible for the Ivory Coast national team.
Should the paperwork eventually be approved, Doukouré could still become an important option for the Elephants in the future.
For now, though, uncertainty continues to surround his participation in the biggest tournament of his international career.
Ivory Coast supporters will now wait anxiously to see whether the final administrative hurdles can be resolved in time for the defender to officially wear the orange jersey on the world stage.
Chris Smith stands out despite Lions’ narrow defeat by All Blacks Aug 26, 2026
