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Ivory Coast reach World Cup knockout stage for the first time, Curacao’s dream over

Ivory Coast's Nicolas Pepe raises a fist in celebration

Nicolas Pepe and Ivory Coast are through to the last 32 of the World Cup Sean M. Haffey/FIFA via Getty Images

By Matt Slater, Rebecca Tauber and Anantaajith RaghuramanJune 25, 2026 Updated 6:36 pm EDT

Ivory Coast reached the knockout stage of the men’s World Cup for the first time — with France or Norway lying in wait in the last 32. It is also the first time they have won multiple matches in a single edition of the World Cup.

An early goal for Germany against Ecuador in the other Group E game briefly gave Curacao hope of securing a third-place spot, but Nicolas Pepe’s first goal for Ivory Coast in Philadelphia was quickly followed by an Ecuador equaliser at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey to dampen the dreams of the team ranked 82nd in the world.

In truth, Ivory Coast barely had to find more than second or third gear in this comfortable 2-0 win, while Ecuador pulled off a shock 2-1 win against Germany to seal third place in the group.

First, the dancing feet of Yan Diomande fed Pepe, who stroked the ball home in the seventh minute. Then the Villarreal forward added a deserved second in the 64th minute after a delightful defence-splitting pass from Ibrahim Sangare. That goal made Pepe just the second Ivory Coast player to score 2+ goals in a World Cup match.

Matt Slater, Rebecca Tauber and Anantaajith Raghuraman assess the key talking points — and what this result means for the World Cup bracket.

Who do Ivory Coast play next?

As the runner-up in Group E, Ivory Coast will face the runner-up in Group I in Dallas on June 30. This will either be France or Norway, who both have six points and play each other on Friday, June 26.

The Athletic’s forecast gives Ivory Coast an 80 per cent chance of playing Norway.

Beware Ivory Coast?

Ivory Coast’s total of 558 passes completed against Curaçao was their most in a World Cup match, and Pepe’s early strike was another example of Ivory Coast’s most profitable route to goal at this World Cup: cutbacks.

This one carried a bit of luck as Curacao’s struggles in playing out from the back led to Diomande winning possession on the left wing. He passed into the box for Pepe to arrive late and tuck the ball home.

Ivory Coast had some luck with their goal against Germany too. Diomande was at the heart of that, dribbling past his man and sending a pass across the box to Amad. The Manchester United forward’s shot was blocked but Franck Kessie converted the rebound.

Their late winner against Ecuador came from a cutback from the right to Amad waiting behind the penalty spot to finish first time.

The pace and one-v-one quality Ivory Coast have on the wings and the number of bodies they are willing to push into the box makes this a dangerous strategy. Norway or France will need to be wary.

Anantaajith Raghuraman

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Does Amad Diallo deserve more minutes?

When I told my son, a Manchester United fan, that the first two games I had been to at the World Cup were Ecuador vs Ivory Coast and Brazil vs Haiti, he wrote back: “So you’ve seen the United players cook, then.”

He was referring, of course, to Ivory Coast winger Amad Diallo and Brazilian forward Matheus Cunha. The latter has continued to cook, while the former has… simmered?

The 23-year-old came off the bench in the 55th minute against Ecuador and put in the type of cameo that must have tempted the man-of-the-match committee to break the unwritten rule that subs can’t get the prize. He was brilliant. Half a dozen successful dribbles and a superb, first-time shot to win the game 1-0.

That earned him a start against Germany and this time he was the man taken off in the second half, as he struggled to make the same impact as he did against the South Americans. He did not play badly, though.

Which leads us to Thursday’s performance. Another start, 17 out of 17 passes completed, two out of two tackles made and two decent shots — the second knocked Curacao defender Jurien Gaari off his feet.

Manchester United’s Amad Diallo has ‘simmered’ for Ivory Coast (Darrian Traynor/Getty Images)

But then, for reasons that remain unclear to all of us in the press box, he was hooked at the break. And if social media is any guide (I know, I know), it seems watching Ivorians are a little confused, too.

He may be carrying an injury. After all, after a breakthrough 2024-25 season with United, last season was a stop-start affair, as he struggled for fitness, form and a regular place in Michael Carrick’s line-ups.

But it might be, as has been suggested by the Ivorian media, that manager Emerse Fae still does not fully trust Amad, who is a thrilling player but can overdo it at times.

We are a long way from Carlo Ancelotti/Endrick levels here but people are starting to wonder why Amad is not getting more minutes to cook for Ivory Coast.

Matt Slater

A partisan crowd?

A few dedicated fan sections aside, Thursday’s matchup between two of the smaller World Cup nations meant this game was more of a local scene.

There was a larger mix of jerseys, more Americans and more families for what will likely be one of the World Cup’s “cheapest” games. One fan I talked to was decked out in orange, white and green — simply because he was Irish, and figured he would support the Ivory Coast because he already had the color scheme.

Ivory Coast celebrate in front of the crowd after Nicolas Pepe’s opener (Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)

Another woman said she arbitrarily chose the Ivory Coast to root for, so her sister picked Curaçao. More than one “Go Birds” chants, in support of the NFL’s Philadelphia Eagles, broke out on the concourse.

But don’t mistake a lack of population with a lack of passion. While this game had a few empty seats here and there, fans were eager to adopt the Ivory Coast, based in nearby Delaware for the tournament, and cheered for a country whose nationals are currently subject to short-term travel bans to the United States.

Rebecca Tauber

How should Curacao reflect on this World Cup?

Curacao’s World Cup may have ended with a whimper but not before producing some memorable moments.

Livano Comenencia’s equaliser against Germany characterised an underdog by every possible metric and definition taking the challenge to one of the tournament favourites. The game ended in a 7-1 battering but there were positives to be taken.

Eloy Room’s heroics to frustrate Ecuador, considered a dark horse by many after their South American qualifying campaign, were thrilling to watch. Fifteen saves, tying United States legend Tim Howard’s record from 2014 (per Opta at least), led to a first World Cup point to savour. Ecuador beating Germany 2-1, albeit in a dead rubber for the latter, will make Curacao’s draw taste that much sweeter.

Catch Up On The Story

Eloy Room spent last year training alone. Now he’s Curacao’s World Cup hero Room's 15 saves against Ecuador is the stuff of dreams, as is the journey to this point for him and Curacao

Against Ivory Coast, there were sparks, particularly from former Manchester United youngster Tahith Chong and Juninho Bacuna. A couple of hopeful efforts flashed high and wide and a few others resulted in routine saves.

Ultimately, it was not to be. But in their first World Cup and in a group with three teams in the top 30 of FIFA’s latest rankings, Dick Advocaat’s team and their fans will depart knowing they gave it their all.

Anantaajith Raghuraman