They did brilliantly to top their qualifying group ahead of five-time participants Cameroon.
They will include Arsenal defenders Kolo Toure and Emmanuel Eboue and Chelsea striker Didier Drogba.
Coach Henri Michel has plenty of experience at this level, having already coached France, Morocco and Cameroon at the World Cup Finals.
Qualification was devoted to assistant coach Mama Ouattara who collapsed and died in the middle of a training session before a key game against Egypt.
Ivory Coast's only major honour came in 1992 when they won the African Nations Cup in Tunisia.
Coach: Henri Michel
One to watch: Aruna Dindane
World ranking: 32
Previous tournaments: 0
Best finish: N/A