Côte d'Ivoire - World Cup 2026: Sébastien Haller, between doubts and hope

Sébastien Haller is at a crossroads. The 31-year-old striker from Utrecht (Netherlands) has been off the radar of the national team for just over a year. His last appearance with the Pachydermes dates back to March 11, 2025, against Burundi and Gambia (qualifiers for the 2026 World Cup). since he had forfeited the AFCON and was replaced by Evann Guessand in December 2025. With less than 50 days to go until the US World Cup, his case is being debated among Ivorian football observers.

Some believe that it must be an adventure. "He must be summoned for service to the nation," say the followers of this thesis. Others, on the other hand, think that we should favor the form of the moment. In this game, Haller clearly does not leave with the favors of the predictions. With his club in the Reserve, he scored only one goal in 18 games. Poor statistics, given the player’s talent, which indicate that he is not in the best of shape.

On the outs with Faé...
Between Haller and Faé, it’s not true love right now. The Ivorian striker has long ignored his coach, who snubbed him on several lists in 2025 (June, October, November). But he doesn’t blame her anymore and prefers to clear his mind to be ready while waiting for a possible selection. 

«Yes, it’s true that Seb was a bit bitter since some players didn’t perform but were selected and not him. That’s what competitors do. You understand. Today, things are better physically and mentally. On the last day of the championship, he asked his leaders and got to rest. He went to spend time with family. It did him good. In his mind, the next big challenge with the selection is the 2026 World Cup," 

a close friend of the former striker of Ajax Amsterdam and Borussia Dortmund told Sport News Africa. 

«There are players that we must not do without for this World Cup. We will say that it is a relative who says it, so it makes sense, he wants to play on the sensitive side but no, ask specialists, they will tell you the same thing as me,"

 concluded our source.

More than a striker
Under the jersey of the Elephants, Haller, it’s 34 matches for 11 goals but acts of strength that have remained in the collective memory including the epic of the 2023 AFCON won by Côte d'Ivoire at home. At his worst after being operated on for testicular cancer, he injured himself with BVB before CAN at home in 2023.

But Jean-Louis Gasset, then selector, took the risk of taking him in his suitcase. Race results; a goal against the DRC, which sends the Ivorians to the final and the winning goal against Nigeria in the final at the Olympic Stadium Alassane Ouattara of Ebimpé (1-2). The man whom his compatriots rightly designated as the successor of the immortal Didier Drogba is still seen as the savior of the 2023 African Champions. 

«I think that the Ivorian selection should go to the 2026 World Cup with Sébastien Haller, if he is in possession of all his physical abilities. His club performances should not be too decisive in his selection because he knows well the environment of the Ivorian selection and the flavor of major international competitions. In addition, he has a unique profile in the national team in terms of setting up defenses, efficiency in aerial play and in front of goals. His presence would be very advantageous for the Elephants, if he is physically fit. However, if he is injured or physically impaired, I would not be in favor of his selection,"

 analyzes Magloire Diop, editor-in-chief at Ivorian public television. 

For Haller, as for other Ivorian internationals with wild dreams of the World Cup, the list of 26 to face the Blues on June 4, 2026 in Nantes, France, which will be published on May 15 in Abidjan, is that of the last chance.