In Philadelphia, during the Ivory Coast-Ecuador match, the stands were awash in orange. But behind these jerseys worn by American fans lie life stories as unusual as they are touching.

A crazy idea born in a Scottish pub

It all began far from Pennsylvania, in the cozy atmosphere of an Irish pub in Edinburgh. The owner, still bitter about his national team missing out on the World Cup, impulsively decided (and probably after a few pints) to find a new team. That team would be Ivory Coast .

The common thread? A flag in sister colors: green, white, and that vibrant orange. The initiative quickly went viral on social media, sparking a veritable quest to find these famous Irish fans who had converted to the Elephants in the streets of Philadelphia.

Stories of friendship across borders

Yet, on the stadium forecourt, while Western faces wearing Ivorian jerseys are numerous, no Celtic accent is heard. Instead, each orange jersey tells a unique story of connection to Ivory Coast.

This is the case for Daven and Amy , peacefully settled in the shade near the stadium. The couple proudly displays the Ivorian colors, while their baby is dressed in a little white jersey. Their presence here is defined by a name: Aminata .

"Aminata is Ivorian and her husband is American. They are our friends," the couple explained with a smile. "They are currently at the stadium and we are looking after the baby!"

From North Dakota to Ivorian fervor

Before meeting Aminata, Daven and Amy didn't know much about the West African country. But their friend's overflowing enthusiasm was contagious.

"She dragged us into this! She kept boasting, saying, 'Ivory Coast will win, we're the best, we'll beat everyone!'"

Captivated by this energy, the couple didn't hesitate to make the trip from North Dakota. And so what if they didn't manage to get tickets for the game: the simple pleasure of sharing this enthusiasm and helping out by looking after the children was well worth the journey.

In Philadelphia, the spirit of Ivory Coast has definitively won American hearts.