Côte d’Ivoire has achieved a remarkable milestone by advancing past the group stage of the World Cup for the first time in 2026. Their journey was secured with a 2-0 win over Curaçao, propelled by a brace from Nicolas Pépé, which positioned the Ivorians as runners-up in Group E.
“Celebrate this historic qualification, like we should,” Ivorian manager Emerse Faé expressed to his team afterward. “Once we’re done celebrating, we want to go as far as possible in this competition. This is a young group. They’re all at their first ever World Cup. They’re playing well. There is a lot of solidarity in this group.”
The match, held in Philadelphia, was far from flawless, yet the spirited effort from Curaçao marked their notable debut on the World Cup stage.
The expansion of the tournament from 32 to 48 teams has led to inevitable trade-offs. While it allows for a broader representation, it also dilutes the intricate narratives of individual teams, increasing the likelihood of mismatched contests and less competitive games.
However, this expansion also opens the door for underdog stories, which are often lacking in contemporary football, where teams are typically categorized into competitions that reflect their abilities.
Curaçao surprised many with their competitive spirit, fielding a squad largely comprised of Dutch-born players. They showcased their tenacity throughout the tournament, managing to score against Germany in their opening match despite suffering a heavy defeat of 7-1. Their 0-0 draw with Ecuador featured an impressive performance from goalkeeper Eloy Room, who recorded 15 saves, the highest in a World Cup match since 2014 and the most in a game without extra time.
The tournament’s expansion has clearly benefitted newcomers like Curaçao, but it has also quietly favored teams such as Côte d’Ivoire, who have seized the opportunity presented by the enlarged format.
Historically, Côte d’Ivoire has hovered in the upper-middle tier of global football. With a rich talent pool, they have produced legendary players like Didier Drogba, Yaya Touré, Kolo Touré, Salomon Kalou, and Gervinho. Despite their prowess, they had only reached the World Cup three times—2006, 2010, and 2014—despite strong showings in the Africa Cup of Nations.
Africa’s representation in the tournament has doubled from five teams in 2022 to ten this year. In qualifying, Côte d’Ivoire was unbeaten, winning eight matches and not conceding a single goal.
Prior to this match, Côte d’Ivoire’s tournament experience was fraught with tension. A last-minute goal from Amad Diallo secured a victory against Ecuador, while a late goal from Deniz Undav cost them points against Germany.
Just seven minutes into the match against Curaçao, a critical error by Juriën Gaari and Joshua Brenet gifted possession to Yan Diomande, who set up Pépé for a straightforward finish past goalkeeper Room.
While Curaçao struggled to contain the creativity of Diallo and the pace of Diomande, the Ivorians opted not to utilize their wingers to put the game beyond doubt. Diallo’s shot that struck Gaari’s face was a close call, and Curaçao managed some opportunities despite having just 26% possession, with Tahith Chong and Leandro Bacuna both posing threats.
In the second half, Côte d’Ivoire initially appeared indifferent to increasing their lead, allowing Curaçao to take more risks. Coach Dick Advocaat’s side pushed forward but lacked the finishing quality, relying heavily on Chong for offensive creativity. “We have to keep looking for players who are allowed to represent Curaçao,” Advocaat noted. “A few positions have to get better.”
In the 64th minute, Côte d’Ivoire secured their victory when Ibrahim Sangaré found Pépé, who skillfully curled the ball past Room.
Despite the scoreline, Curaçao continued to press forward, with Room making several key saves to deny further goals. Unfortunately for them, they conceded twice in their final two matches, scoring only once throughout the tournament.
“This team has outdone itself against world-class sides,” Advocaat remarked. “[Côte d’Ivoire’s] wingers are worth 50m each … The most important thing when we set out was qualifying for the Gold Cup. And only once we’d done that, qualifying for the World Cup.”
After the final whistle, the Curaçao players remained on the field, embracing and savoring the experience. Their future in such a prestigious tournament remains uncertain, but Advocaat expressed optimism: “When you see how we played the second and third game,” he said, “that’s very promising.”
- World Cup 2026
- Curaçao
- Côte d’Ivoire football team
- World Cup
- match reports
