Ivory Coast advanced to the knockout stages of the FIFA World Cup 2026 after a clinical 2-0 victory over Curacao, with veteran striker Pepe scoring a brace to seal second place in Group E and eliminate the Caribbean minnows from the tournament.
Pepe's early strike sets the tone
The 38-year-old Porto forward opened the scoring in the seventh minute, latching onto a precise through ball from Franck Kessié before slotting past Curacao goalkeeper Eloy Room. The early goal settled any nerves for the Ivorians, who knew a win would guarantee progression.
Curacao, making their first World Cup appearance, struggled to create clear chances against a disciplined Ivory Coast defense. The Caribbean side, ranked 80th in the world, managed only one shot on target in the first half, a long-range effort from Leandro Bacuna that was comfortably saved by Yahia Fofana.
Second-half dominance seals the deal
Ivory Coast doubled their lead in the 64th minute when Pepe struck again, this time from the penalty spot after a handball in the box by Curacao defender Cuco Martina. The former Arsenal and Chelsea forward sent Room the wrong way to make it 2-0.
The Ivorians controlled the remainder of the match, with Nicolas Pépé hitting the post in the 78th minute. Curacao's best opportunity came in injury time when substitute Jarchinio Antonia fired wide from a tight angle.
According to FIFA statistics, Ivory Coast finished Group E with five points, one behind group winners Netherlands, who beat Norway 3-1 in the other group match. Curacao ended with one point from three games, scoring just one goal in the tournament.
Historical context and impact
This marks the fourth time Ivory Coast has advanced past the group stage in World Cup history, having previously done so in 2006, 2010, and 2014. For Curacao, the campaign was a learning experience; the island nation of approximately 150,000 people was the smallest nation in the tournament by population.
Ivory Coast coach Jean-Louis Gasset praised his team's professionalism: "We knew Curacao would be dangerous on the counter-attack, but the early goal allowed us to control the game. Pepe's experience was crucial."
The Ivorians will face the runner-up of Group F in the Round of 16, scheduled to take place on July 1 in Houston. Curacao coach Guus Hiddink acknowledged the gap in quality: "We competed well in patches, but Ivory Coast's individual quality made the difference."
With the victory, Ivory Coast continues to build on its reputation as one of Africa's strongest footballing nations, while Curacao returns home with valuable experience from their debut World Cup campaign.
