It is the ultimate test for any parent: two sons playing on opposite teams in a match. But this is not a kickabout in the local park. This is the World Cup.
There are four sets of siblings playing for different nations on the biggest stage of all, including Desire and Guela Doue, who could face one another this summer. Born to a French mother and an Ivorian father in Angers, the brothers play for Paris St-Germain and Strasbourg respectively. Two-time Champions League winner Desire, 21, turns out for France, while overlapping full-back Guela, 23, plays for Ivory Coast.
“Four sets of brothers play for different nations at the World Cup, including the Doue siblings who could face each other.”
"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."
But their close bond could be tested in the United States. Should France finish runners-up in Group I and Ivory Coast finish runners-up in Group E, the pair will face one another in the last-32 stage in Arlington, Texas, on 30 June.
When Ivory Coast defeated France 2-1 in a pre-World Cup friendly on 4 June, Guela sang both countries' 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.
There has been only one previous case of siblings squaring off against each other at the World Cup, and it happened in back-to-back tournaments. Jerome Boateng of Germany faced older half-brother Kevin Prince of Ghana in Johannesburg in 2010. Germany won 1-0. Four years later, the pair were on opposite sides again in Brazil when the group game ended 2-2.
Other brothers at this tournament include the Williams siblings: Nico, 23, who was player of the match when Spain beat England in the European Championship final two years ago, and older brother Inaki, 32, who turns out for Ghana. Both are Basque-born and play together for Atletico Bilbao. Australia have selected Aberdeen-born centre-back Harry Souttar, 27, whose brother John, 29, is also at the World Cup with Scotland. Their mother, Heather, is Australian, and Harry played for Scotland at youth level before switching his allegiance in 2019.