Having been trained together at Rennes, France and now established internationals, Desire and Guela Doue are preparing to experience a rare moment: playing in the 2026 World Cup for two different national teams, France and Côte d’Ivoire.
The World Cup, to be held from June 11 to July 19 in the United States, Canada, and Mexico, will indeed see the same family represented by two nations.
Brothers Desire Doue and Guela Doue are among the players selected by France and Côte d’Ivoire, respectively.
From an Ivorian family and trained at Stade Rennais FC, the two brothers followed different paths before reaching the highest level, according to FIFA’s website.
Guela Doue, 23, has established himself as a key player for RC Strasbourg Alsace and the Ivorian national team managed by Emerse Fae. His younger brother, Desire, 21, has become one of the mainstays of Paris Saint-Germain and is among the leading young talents of the French national team.
According to FIFA’s official draw, France will play in Group I alongside Senegal, Iraq, and Norway.
Côte d’Ivoire, meanwhile, has been drawn into Group E with Germany, Ecuador, and Curaçao.
The Elephants will be making their return to the World Cup for the first time since 2014 and will be aiming to advance beyond the group stage for the first time in their history.
Before the tournament begins, the two brothers will have the opportunity to reunite in a friendly match between France and Ivory Coast, scheduled for June 4, a few days before the World Cup kicks
off.
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