Security concerns briefly emerged around the Côte d’Ivoire camp at the 2026 FIFA World Cup after reports of a shooting incident near the team’s hotel area in Wilmington, Delaware.
Local authorities confirmed that a suspect is currently on the run after allegedly shooting two individuals in the vicinity of a hospital zone close to the team’s accommodation area. Police have since cordoned off the area and intensified search operations.
However, the Ivorian Football Federation moved quickly to calm fears, confirming that the Côte d’Ivoire national football team was not affected by the incident. The federation stressed that the event has no connection to the team’s delegation or World Cup activities.
All players, coaching staff, and officials are reported to be safe and secure, and training preparations are continuing as planned ahead of their next fixture.
The federation also expressed appreciation to FIFA and United States security agencies for their swift response, noting that the team remains fully focused on its tournament campaign despite the disturbance.
