TL;DR — Who's Better, Ivory Coast or Serbia?
Ivory Coast are favored over Serbia at the 2026 World Cup, with our AI model projecting a 44% win probability for Ivory Coast versus 39% for Serbia (and 17% for a draw). The edge is driven primarily by Ivory Coast's higher squad chemistry, though Serbia remain capable of an upset on tournament form.
The Bottom Line
This is an extremely tight matchup. Both Ivory Coast and Serbia are evenly matched across key metrics, making this one of the most unpredictable potential encounters at the 2026 World Cup. Tactical execution and individual moments of brilliance will likely decide the outcome.
Key Differences: Ivory Coast vs Serbia
- •FIFA Ranking: Serbia sit 6 places higher on the FIFA ranking (#32 vs #38).
- •Squad Chemistry: Squad chemistry is essentially tied (Ivory Coast 74, Serbia 72).
- •Average Squad Rating: The two squads are rated within 0.2 of each other on average (Ivory Coast 6.7, Serbia 6.7).
- •International Experience: Serbia bring more combined caps to the squad (752 vs 633).
- •World Cup Titles: Neither side has won a World Cup; both are chasing a first title in 2026.
Who Wins?
Our AI model weighs form, squad quality, and team cohesion to predict the most likely outcome.
How They Compare
A side-by-side look at the key factors that could decide this matchup. Higher is better (except FIFA Ranking, where lower = stronger).
What do these mean?
- Chemistry — How well the squad plays together as a unit. Think Barcelona's tiki-taka vs a random group of all-stars.
- Familiarity — How long these players have been playing together. Squads with years of shared experience read each other's runs instinctively.
- Stability — How consistent the tactical system and lineup have been. Frequent coaching changes and formation experiments hurt this score.
- Morale — The squad's current confidence and momentum. Recent wins, fan support, and media positivity all contribute.
Ivory Coast
Serbia
Squad Comparison
Key Player Matchups
World Cup History
Ivory Coast vs Serbia — Frequently Asked Questions
Who is favored to win between Ivory Coast and Serbia at the 2026 World Cup?
Ivory Coast are favored, with a 44% projected win probability versus 39% for Serbia and a 17% chance of a draw. The edge comes from a combination of FIFA ranking, squad chemistry, and current form.
What are Ivory Coast's strongest attributes versus Serbia?
Ivory Coast lead Serbia in squad chemistry, tactical stability, squad morale. Serbia do not lead in any of the four chemistry metrics.
What is the World Cup history of Ivory Coast versus Serbia?
Ivory Coast have appeared in 4 FIFA World Cups and won 0 titles; Serbia have appeared in 3 World Cups and won 0 titles. Ivory Coast's best finish is Group stage; Serbia's best finish is Group stage.
Have Ivory Coast and Serbia faced each other in major international competition?
Ivory Coast and Serbia have not been frequent opponents in our tracked head-to-head record set, which focuses on the most consequential international rivalries. The 2026 World Cup could provide one of their first high-stakes meetings on the global stage.
Which players will define the Ivory Coast versus Serbia match?
Simon Adingra (Ivory Coast, Brighton, rated 7.2/10) and Dušan Vlahović (Serbia, Juventus, rated 7.5/10) are the standout attack players in this fixture. Their individual duel — and the ability of each side's defense to contain the other's top attacker — is likely to determine the outcome.
Which squad has more international experience: Ivory Coast or Serbia?
Serbia carry the more experienced squad, with 752 combined senior caps versus 633 for Ivory Coast. Average squad rating is 6.7 for Ivory Coast and 6.7 for Serbia.