The West African Cote d’Ivoire team has selected the Philadelphia Union’s Subaru Park and WSFS Bank Sportsplex in Chester as its base camp for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, writes Emma Dooling for the Philadelphia Business Journal.
The country’s national team will play two matches in Philadelphia during the group round of the tournament. Les Elephants, as they are commonly known, will face Ecuador on June 14 and Curacao on June 25.
After winning the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations and qualifying for the World Cup in 2006, 2010, and 2014, Ivory Coast remains a formidable opponent despite never advancing past the group stage, according to Philadelphia Soccer 2026 host city executive Meg Kane.
“We welcome Les Éléphants to Philadelphia Union’s stadium as their home away from home and promise to show them the best of what we have to offer during their time here this summer,” said Kane.
Philadelphia Union president Tim McDermott said Ivory Coast’s selection reinforces the club’s vision to create “one of the most unique sports campuses in North America.”
Read more about the World Cup preparations in the Philadelphia Business Journal.
