The 2026 FIFA World Cup will be hosted in the United States for the first time since 1994, expanding to 48 teams across three groups of 16. These two markets ask whether Iraq or Ivory Coast will capture the tournament title—one of football's highest honors and most competitive events. Both nations have historical significance in African and Asian football, yet face dramatically different paths to championship contention. Iraq's national team competes in the AFC (Asian Football Confederation), while Ivory Coast represents CAF (Confédération Africaine de Football). Understanding their respective regional competitions, player development systems, and tournament infrastructure helps contextualize why both currently trade at 0% on Polymarket. At 0% YES on both markets, traders collectively assess virtually zero probability that either nation will win the World Cup. This suggests profound skepticism about their competitive readiness. The 0% price reflects several realities: neither team has won the World Cup or reached a final; both face stacked groups with traditional powerhouses; coaching instability and domestic league quality lag behind European and South American rivals; and available squad depth rarely matches contenders. When a market trades at 0%, it signals near-certainty that the event will not occur—traders are willing to pay close to 100 USDC to win just 1 USDC if either team lifts the trophy. Such extreme pricing indicates little dispute among participants about their championship chances. Iraq and Ivory Coast could theoretically advance to knockout rounds if each dominates their group and rides an improbable winning streak. A surprise tournament run by one nation would not necessarily correlate with the other's success—they compete in different confederations, face different qualifying opponents, and operate under different tactical traditions. Iraq's recent tournament performances and Ivory Coast's current squad strength (built around Ligue 1 and Premier League players) reveal divergent trajectories. However, structural obstacles apply to both: neither nation typically places players in elite European clubs, neither has won a continental championship recently, and both must overcome historical underperformance in global stages. If one team surprisingly reached a World Cup semi-final, it would reflect a historic upset, but that outcome for the other remains independent. Monitor coaching appointments and pre-tournament friendlies to gauge preparation quality. Watch for player availability—injuries to key talents, club-versus-country scheduling conflicts, or domestic instability could affect either squad's cohesion. Group composition matters enormously; the 2026 draw will determine whether Iraq or Ivory Coast faces manageable or brutal opposition. Tournament momentum is unpredictable; a single shock victory early on can shift psychology and media narrative. Finally, track odds movements on other markets (group winners, knockout stage qualifiers) for both teams—if either begins trending upward in secondary markets, it may signal growing confidence that filters into championship odds. For now, both nations remain extreme long-shots, but football's unpredictability means late-tournament surprises always remain within the realm of possibility.