Guela Doue and Desire Doue Could Face Each Other at World Cup as Brothers Split by International Duty
Guela Doue and his brother Desire could meet in the World Cup knockout stage if Ivory Coast and France finish as runners-up in their respective groups.
Two brothers born in France will potentially face off in a World Cup knockout match after choosing to represent different nations. Guela Doue plays for Ivory Coast while his younger brother Desire represents France, with a possible meeting scheduled for June 30 in Arlington, Texas, should both teams advance as group runners-up. The matchup would mark only the second instance in World Cup history of siblings competing against each other on the tournament's biggest stage.
The Doue Brothers' International Paths
Born in Angers, France, to a French mother and an Ivorian father, the brothers have pursued divergent international careers despite their close relationship. Desire, 21, established himself as a standout talent at Paris Saint-Germain, where he recently won back-to-back Champions League titles. He now holds six caps for France. His older brother Guela, 23, plays as an overlapping full-back for Strasbourg and has accumulated 20 appearances for Ivory Coast.
The brothers demonstrated their shared commitment to both nations when Ivory Coast faced France in a pre-World Cup friendly on June 4. Guela sang both national anthems before kickoff, emphasizing his deep connection to each country. Desire did not feature in that match, having just completed Champions League success with his club. After Ivory Coast's 2-1 victory, Guela expressed regret at not facing his brother directly during that encounter, though he acknowledged Desire's happiness for him.
A Rare Historical Occurrence
The potential World Cup meeting between the Doue brothers would follow a precedent set by Jerome Boateng and Kevin Prince Boateng. The German and Ghanaian siblings faced each other in consecutive World Cups—Germany defeating Ghana 1-0 in 2010, followed by a 2-2 draw in 2014. The Doue brothers would become only the second pairing in World Cup history to compete on opposing sides.
This World Cup features a record seven sibling pairs competing across different nations. Beyond the Doue brothers, other notable matchups include the Williams brothers—Inaki and Nico—with one representing Ghana and the other Spain. The Souttar brothers represent Scotland and Australia respectively, while the Brobbey siblings play for the Netherlands and Ghana. This unprecedented concentration of divided families underscores how international football can create compelling personal narratives on sport's largest platform.
Could Guela Doue and Desire Doue actually play against each other?+
Why do the Doue brothers play for different countries?+
Have brothers faced each other at a World Cup before?+
How many sibling pairs are competing at this World Cup?+
What has Desire Doue achieved with Paris Saint-Germain?+
Bülten Aboneliği
Haftada bir, teknoloji ve dijital dünyadan seçtiklerimiz e-postanda. Spam yok, sadece içerik.
