World Cup 2026 has produced one of football's more unusual sibling stories: Guela Doue and Desire Doue — brothers from Angers in western France — are both competing at the tournament, but pulling on the shirts of two different nations.

Desire Doue, 21, represents France. The Paris Saint-Germain winger arrives at the World Cup with back-to-back UEFA Champions League winner's medals and two Ligue 1 titles earned across the same two seasons. His club form has firmly established him as one of Europe's most exciting attacking talents.

Guela Doue, 23, wears the colours of Ivory Coast. A defender who moved to Strasbourg from Rennes two summers ago, Guela made his international debut for the Elephants in March 2024 following a call-up from coach Emerse Fae. He has since featured in all four of Ivory Coast's matches at this tournament.

Born to represent two nations

The brothers were raised in the same household — born to a French mother and an Ivorian father — yet each exercised his right to choose his own international allegiance. Desire opted to represent France, the country of his birth, while Guela, who holds dual citizenship, declared for Ivory Coast.

Guela is the older of the two, having also left Rennes in a separate transfer. Desire's move to Paris Saint-Germain came in 2024, and his rise since then has been remarkable. Didier Deschamps will be keen to see whether a World Cup winner's medal can be added to his growing collection.

A World Cup tradition of brotherly divisions

The Doues are not the only brothers competing for rival nations at World Cup 2026. Granit Xhaka, the Sunderland midfielder who has represented Switzerland since 2011, is hoping to guide his country through the round of 32. His brother Taulant Xhaka, a former professional, played international football for Albania. Both were born in Kosovo.

Spain winger Nico Williams is also at the tournament, though he picked up an injury in the group stage following a challenge from Uruguay's Nicolas de la Cruz. His brother, Inaki Williams, is part of the Ghana squad and played in their 0-0 draw with England during the group stage.

The tradition of siblings on opposing sides stretches back further still. At the 2010 World Cup, Ghana were represented by Kevin-Prince Boateng — born in Berlin — while his half-brother Jerome Boateng lined up for Germany in the same tournament.