LIVE UPDATES: Ivory Coast vs Ecuador World Cup 2026

Refresh this page regularly for live match updates, goals, substitutions, VAR decisions, half-time analysis, full-time reaction and player ratings from Ivory Coast vs Ecuador at the FIFA World Cup 2026.

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• This is the first meeting between Ivory Coast and Ecuador.
• Ivory Coast have lost against CONMEBOL opposition in each of their last three World Cup appearances.
• Ivory Coast have conceded only one second-half goal across their last six international matches.
• Ecuador are unbeaten since September 2024.
• Enner Valencia has scored six of Ecuador’s last seven World Cup goals.

Key Statistics

Kick-off: 23:00 GMT

Venue: Lincoln Financial Field(Philadelphia, PA)
Group: E
Competition: FIFA World Cup 2026
Match: Ivory Coast vs Ecuador

Match Information

Ivory Coast’s defensive record has been exceptional. The Elephants came through CAF World Cup qualifying without conceding a single goal.

Ecuador completed their World Cup preparations with a convincing 3-0 victory over Guatemala and are viewed by many as one of the dark horses in Group E.

Match Preview: Ivory Coast face a difficult opening test against an Ecuador side that finished second in CONMEBOL qualifying.

Both teams are built on strong defensive foundations, suggesting a tightly contested encounter.
• Only four of Ivory Coast’s last 21 competitive matches have seen both teams score.
• Ecuador have seen over 2.5 goals in only four of their last 22 matches.
• None of Ecuador’s previous 14 World Cup goals have come from outside the penalty area.
Stat attack:
• Amad Diallo (Ivory Coast) – Six international goals, with five scored after half-time.
• Enner Valencia (Ecuador) – Scored six of Ecuador’s last seven World Cup goals.

Players to watch tonight:

Team news is expected shortly. Ivory Coast will be without Clément Akpa, who was ruled out before the tournament. Ecuador are monitoring the fitness of Kendry Páez after an injury concern in their warm-up victory over Guatemala.

Ivory Coast return to the World Cup for the first time since 2014.

The Elephants come into the tournament on a three-match winning streak and have lost only one of their last nine international matches.

Ecuador arrive in impressive form, unbeaten since September 2024. Their defensive record has been one of the strongest in South America, conceding just five goals during qualification.

Tonight’s clash marks the first-ever meeting between Ivory Coast and Ecuador in international football.

Kick-off is fast approaching as both nations begin their quest for a place in the knockout rounds.

Follow AfricaSoccer.com’s LIVE coverage for team news, match updates, goals, key moments and post-match reaction.

Welcome to AfricaSoccer.com’s LIVE coverage of Ivory Coast vs Ecuador in Group

Match ends: Ivory Coast 1, Ecuador 0

The referee ends the game

99′  Piero Hincapie’s header is blocked

98′ Odilon Kossounou concedes a corner

97′ Christ Inao Oulai’s shot from outside the box goes high

96′ Christ Inao Oulai concedes a corner

95′ Wilfried Singo concedes a corner

94′ Amad Diallo’s shot from the middle of the box is saved by goalkeeper Hernan Galindez

93′ Wilfried Singo wins a free kick in Ivory Coast defensive half.

92′ Fourth official announces 7 minutes of added time.

90′ GOOOOOAL Amad Diallo’s left footed shot beats goalkeeper Hernan Galindez

88′ Ivory Coast makes changes: Odilon Kossounou in, Guela Doue out

88′ Joel Ordonez’s shot is blocked

87′ Ghislain Konan concedes a corner

87′ Joel Ordonez’s header from  Moises Caicedo’s corner is blocked

86′ Guela Doue fouls Nilson Angulo

85′ Ibrahim Sangare wins a freekick in Ivory Coast’s defensive half

83′ Yan Diomande’s attempt to find Ghislain Konan with a through ball is cleared by Ecuador

81′ Moises Caicedo commits a foul

79′ Amad Diallo’s attempt to dribble away from an opponent fails. Ecuador clears to safety

77′ Ecuador makes changes: Kevin Rodriguez in, Enner Valencia out

77′  Ibrahim Sangare in for Ivory Coast, Seko Fofana out

77′ Ivory Coast makes changes: Christ Inao Oulai in, Nicolas Pepe out

73′ Jackson Porozo is shown a yellow card for a bad tackle

73′ Gonzalo Plata’s corner kick is cleared to safety by Ivory Coast

73′ Corner for Ecuador after Gonzalo Plata’s pass was cleared by Ivory Coast

71′ The players return from hydration break

69′ Referee blows his whistle for hydration break

69′ Yahia Fofana reacts quickly to save Gonzalo Plata’s hard first time shot

68′ Substitute Amad Diallo’s long shot to reach a teammate is intercepted by Ecuador

67′ Ivory Coast deals with Angelo Preciado’s lovely cross into the penalty area

65′ Shots on target: Ivory Coast 11 Ecuador 9

63′ Ange-Yoan Bonny wins a freekick for Ivory Coast

62′ Alan Franco out Jackson Porozo in

62′ Ecuador makes changes:  John Yeboah out, Angelo Preciado in

61′ Hernan Galindez saves a shot from outside the box by Seko Fofana

60′ Yan Diomande’s corner is cleared by Ecuador

60′ Corner for Ivory Coast

58′ Yan Diomande’s kick from outside the box from the foul goes high

57′ Yan Diomande wins a freekick after a foul by Alan Franco

56′ Double change for Ivory Coast: Bazoumana Toure and Elye Wahi out, Amad Diallo and Ange-Yoan Bonny in

56′ Ecuador makes a change: Nilson Angulo in, Alan Minda out

56′ Ecuador moves for with Pedro Vite who see his shot outside the box miss the target

53′ Seko Fofana’s shot from outside the box misses the target

52′ Ivory Coast is pushing more for a breakthrough. Elye Wahi hits the woodwork

50′ Nicolas Pepe’s left footed shot misses the target

48′ Ivory Coast wins a freekick in their defensive half through Bazoumana Toure

48′ Alan Franco commits a foul

46′ Gonzalo Plata’s through ball gets to Enner Valencia but his shot hits the left post from a difficult angle

Second half begins

45+4′ First half ends, Ivory Coast 0 Ecuador 0

45+3′ Wilfried Sing goes up and tries a bicycle kick from a corner but his effort goes over.

45+2′ Yan Diomande playing down the right side keeps on taking on Piero Hincapie and beating him with pace.

45+1′ Four minutes of added time has been added. It is still 0-0.

43′ Quick stats: Ecuador’s previous 13 World Cup matches have ended in a draw (W5, L6)

40′ Yellow Card – Guela Doue is booked after a reckless challenge.

40′ Foul – Guela Doue commits a foul.

40′ Free Kick – Enner Valencia earns a free kick on the left flank.

38′ Yellow Card – Franck Kessie receives a booking for a bad foul.

38′ Foul – Franck Kessie brings down his opponent.

38′ Free Kick – Piero Hincapie wins a free kick in the attacking half.

37′ Foul – Guela Doue is penalized.

37′ Free Kick – Alan Minda wins a free kick in his own half.

37′ Free Kick – Guela Doue wins a free kick in the defensive half.

37′ Foul – Enner Valencia commits a foul.

35′ Blocked Shot – Nicolas Pepe sees his left-footed effort from inside the area blocked after being set up by Yan Diomande.

33′ Missed Chance – Seko Fofana fires a right-footed effort from distance off target.

30′ Missed Chance – John Yeboah drags a left-footed shot from the centre of the box wide of the left post after a pass from Moisés Caicedo.

30′ Woodwork – Alan Minda rattles the woodwork with a right-footed strike from the middle of the box.

28′ Yellow Card – Seko Fofana is cautioned for a poor challenge.

28′ Free Kick – Moises Caicedo wins a free kick on the right wing.

28′ Foul Seko Fofana commits the infringement.

27′ Play Resumes – The brief stoppage comes to an end.

24′ Drinks Break – Players pause for a scheduled hydration break.

24′ Missed Chance – Alan Minda sends a right-footed effort from outside the box narrowly wide of the right post.

23′ Woodwork – John Yeboah crashes a left-footed shot from long range against the crossbar.

22′ Free Kick – Enner Valencia wins a free kick in his own half.

22′ Wilfried Singo is penalized for a foul

20′ Play Resumes – Action gets back underway following the stoppage.

20′ Injury Delay – Moises Caicedo receives treatment after going down injured.

19′ Corner – Cote d’Ivoire win a corner after Joel Ordonez turns the ball behind.

18′ Saved – Hernan Galindez makes an excellent save to deny Elye Wahi, whose right-footed shot from the right side of the area was created by Yan Diomande.

16′ Blocked Shot – Seko Fofana sees his long-range effort blocked.

14′ Missed Chance – John Yeboah sends a left-footed shot from outside the area off target.

8′ Free Kick – Franck Kessie wins a free kick in the defensive half.

8′ Foul – Enner Valencia commits a foul.

4′ Franck Kessie is penalized for a foul

4′ Free Kick – Enner Valencia wins a free kick on the left wing.

2′ Missed Chance – Moises Caicedo fires a right-footed effort from distance wide to the left after a pass from Gonzalo Plata.

2′ Free Kick – John Yeboah earns a free kick on the left side.

2′ Foul – Wilfried Singo commits an early foul.

1′ Kick-off – The first half gets underway.