French forward Desire Doue and Ivory Coast defender Guela Doue are preparing to make football history as they head to the 2026 FIFA World Cup representing different nations despite sharing the same family roots.
The brothers, who were both developed at French club Stade Rennais FC, have earned places in the squads of France and Ivory Coast for the tournament that runs from June 11 to July 19 across the United States, Canada and Mexico.
Born to an Ivorian father and a French mother, the siblings grew up together in France and followed similar football journeys before choosing different international paths. Guela, 23, committed his future to Ivory Coast and has become a regular under coach Emerse Fae. Desire, 21, emerged as one of France’s brightest young stars and secured a place in coach Didier Deschamps’s World Cup squad.
The younger brother’s rise has been remarkable. After helping Paris Saint-Germain dominate European football, Desire has become a key part of France’s formidable attack alongside stars such as Kylian Mbappe and Ousmane Dembele.
Meanwhile, Guela has established himself as one of the leading defenders in French football with RC Strasbourg Alsace and is expected to play a major role for the Elephants as they return to the World Cup for the first time since 2014. Ivory Coast will be aiming to reach the knockout stages for the first time in their history.
France will begin their campaign in Group I against Senegal, Iraq and Norway, while Ivory Coast face Germany, Ecuador and Curaçao in Group E. Before the tournament starts, the brothers were set to reunite on opposite sides in a friendly between France and Ivory Coast, adding another chapter to one of the most remarkable family stories of the 2026 World Cup.
