Brothers Desire and Guela Doue Could Clash at World Cup
Brothers Desire and Guela Doue have previously competed against each other in Ligue 1, and this summer they may face off on the World Cup stage.
For any parent, having two sons playing on opposing teams in a match is a significant moment. This scenario is elevated at the World Cup, the sport's most prestigious tournament.
There are four sets of siblings participating for different countries at this World Cup, including Desire and Guela Doue. Born in Angers, France, to a French mother and Ivorian father, the brothers play for Paris St-Germain and Strasbourg respectively.
They have chosen different international allegiances: Desire, 21, a two-time Champions League winner, represents France, while his older brother Guela, 23, plays for Ivory Coast.
"We tell each other everything and have no secrets," Desire told French football programme Telefoot about his relationship with his older brother. "He's such a massive support for me in my daily life."
Their close relationship may be tested during the tournament. If France finishes second in Group I and Ivory Coast finishes second in Group E, the brothers could meet in the last-32 stage in Arlington, Texas, on 30 June.
In a pre-World Cup friendly on 4 June, Ivory Coast defeated France 2-1. Guela sang both national anthems before the match. Desire, who had won the Champions League with PSG five days earlier, was an unused substitute.
"It's a shame I didn't get to play against [my brother], as this was our first France-Ivory Coast match, but I'm happy, and he isn't too fed up," said Guela afterwards.
Previously, only one set of siblings have faced each other at the World Cup. Jerome Boateng of Germany and his older half-brother Kevin Prince of Ghana played against each other in 2010 in Johannesburg, with Germany winning 1-0. They met again in 2014 in Brazil in a group game that ended 2-2.
Desire and Guela Doue could become the next sibling rivals to meet at the World Cup.
Brothers Playing for Different Countries
The Williams brothers, Inaki and Nico, both Basque-born, play together for Atletico Bilbao. However, their international careers differ: Nico, 23, was player of the match when Spain defeated England in the European Championship final two years ago, while his older brother Inaki, 32, represents Ghana.
Australia's Aberdeen-born centre-back Harry Souttar, 27, and his brother John, 29, are both at the World Cup but for different nations. Their mother, Heather, is Australian. Harry played for Scotland at youth level before switching allegiance to Australia in 2019. John debuted for Dundee United at 16 and Scotland at 21. Harry captained Australia in their opening 2-0 group stage win over Turkey.
Ghana's Dutch-born defender Derrick Luckassen, 30, and his half-brother Brian Brobbey, 24, also feature in the tournament. Brobbey, a Sunderland striker, appeared as a late substitute in the Netherlands' opening group game, a 2-2 draw with Japan. They share the same mother but have different fathers.
'We Saw Our Parents Cry'
In addition to the four sets of siblings playing for different countries, three other sets of brothers represent their nations at this World Cup.
Laros Duarte, 29, started for Cape Verde against Spain on 17 June and was substituted in the 61st minute for his younger brother Deroy, 26, in Atlanta. The Rotterdam-born siblings helped Cape Verde secure a notable point as the debutants held the 2010 world champions to a 0-0 draw.
"We saw our parents cry," Laros said after the match. "The feeling is difficult to describe, it's just something you dream of."
Curacao, the smallest nation ever by size and population to participate in a World Cup, fielded the Bacuna brothers against Germany on 14 June. Former Aston Villa midfielder Leandro, 34, and Juninho, 28, who played for Birmingham City and Rangers, were part of the team. Curacao briefly equalised before losing 7-1.
"It's one thing that we always wished for - when we were kids we dreamed of playing together in one team on one pitch," said Juninho.
France, a tournament powerhouse, have brothers Lucas, 30, and Theo Hernandez, 28, in their squad. They play club football for Paris St-Germain and Al Hilal respectively.
"They have this family bond," France boss Didier Deschamps said when the brothers started together for Les Bleus for the first time in 2021. "This does not mean that it changes anything, but I will be dealing with two players who have this connection."
