Adingra World Cup-bound as Faes and Minamino miss out
By Laurent Duval, MonacoViews Editorial
Three AS Monaco players faced contrasting World Cup fortunes on Friday, with Simon Adingra named in Ivory Coast's squad while Wout Faes and Takumi Minamino were left out by Belgium and Japan.
Simon Adingra will represent Ivory Coast at the 2026 World Cup after coach Emerse Faé included the AS Monaco winger in his squad on Friday afternoon. The tournament runs from 11 June to 19 July, meaning Adingra will be absent from Stade Louis II for a significant portion of the close season.
The news was less welcome for two of his club-mates. Defender Wout Faes was left out of Belgium's World Cup selection, and midfielder Takumi Minamino was omitted from Japan's squad. Both players will return to pre-season preparations without the additional workload of a major tournament.
For AS Monaco, the diverging outcomes give the coaching staff a clearer picture of which players will be available and fully rested heading into the 2026-27 campaign. Adingra's participation underlines the growing international profile of the club's squad, even as Faes and Minamino will benefit from a fuller summer at the training base in La Turbie.