Côte d’Ivoire has reached the World Cup knockout stage for the first time in 2026, a milestone that seems almost surreal given the historical context.
In a lackluster match, Nicolas Pépé scored twice to secure a 2-0 victory and ensure the Ivorians advanced to the last 32 as runners-up in their group. The encounter in Philadelphia, known as the birthplace of American democracy, was marked by imprecision, yet Curaçao exited the tournament with their heads held high.
The expansion of the World Cup from 32 to 48 teams has led to inevitable trade-offs. While it introduces complexities and dilutes the quality of matches due to the sheer number of teams, it also provides a platform for underdogs to shine. Curaçao, primarily composed of Dutch-born professionals, displayed unexpected competitiveness throughout the tournament. They managed to equalize against Germany in their opener before suffering a heavy 7-1 defeat and held Ecuador to a remarkable 0-0 draw, during which goalkeeper Eloy Room achieved 15 saves—the highest in a World Cup since 2014.
Both Curaçao and the other three newcomers to this World Cup have greatly benefited from the tournament’s expansion. However, nations like Côte d’Ivoire have also reaped the rewards of this new format.
Situated in the upper echelon of global football, Côte d’Ivoire has produced numerous outstanding players over the years, such as Kolo and Yaya Touré, Didier Drogba, Salomon Kalou, and Gervinho. Despite this, they had only qualified for three World Cups—2006, 2010, and 2014—due to the limited number of spots allocated to Africa until now. Remarkably, they reached the Africa Cup of Nations finals five times in the past two decades.
Africa’s representation has increased from five teams in 2022 to ten this year. While the tournament’s size has expanded by 50%, the African contingent has doubled. Côte d’Ivoire stood out, remaining undefeated in ten matches, winning eight, and not conceding a single goal.
Before this match, Côte d’Ivoire’s journey had been precarious. Amad Diallo secured a late victory against Ecuador with a goal in the 90th minute, while Deniz Undav’s last-minute winner for Germany denied them a point just days later.
However, the match turned decisively in Côte d’Ivoire’s favor early on. A disastrous mistake between defenders Juriën Gaari and Joshua Brenet allowed Yan Diomande to seize the opportunity, setting up Pépé for an easy finish past Room.
Despite their early advantage, the Ivorians failed to capitalize on their chances, opting not to engage their wingers effectively.
Curaçao created several opportunities, with Tahith Chong and Leandro Bacuna looking threatening, even with only 26% possession. In truth, the first half was characterized by more momentum shifts than clear scoring chances.
In the second half, Côte d’Ivoire remained indifferent to adding to their scoreline, allowing Curaçao to take the initiative.
Under the guidance of Dick Advocaat, Curaçao advanced up the pitch with increased intensity, though they lacked the finishing quality to pose a serious threat, with only Chong showing real promise among their forwards.
In the 64th minute, the Ivorians finally secured their victory. Ibrahim Sangaré found Pépé with a precise pass through a gap in the defense. The former Arsenal player then unleashed a powerful shot past Room, confirming their dominance.
Remarkably, Curaçao continued to push forward, determined to make their mark in their World Cup debut. Despite Room’s resistance, which prevented further goals, it is worth noting that Curaçao only conceded twice in their last two matches while managing just one goal across three games.
- World Cup 2026
- Curaçao
- Côte d’Ivoire football team
- World Cup
- match reports
