Nicolas Pépé scores twice as the Elephants advance to the Round of 32. Ivory Coast booked its place in the knockout stage of the 2026 FIFA World Cup for the first time after defeating Curaçao 2-0 in its final Group E match on Thursday. Nicolas Pépé scored both goals to lead the three-time African champions into the Round of 32 while ending Curaçao’s memorable tournament debut.
Needing only a draw to secure qualification following a 1-0 victory over Ecuador and a narrow 2-1 defeat to Germany, Ivory Coast wasted little time taking control. Emerse Fae’s side made the perfect start when Ousmane Diomande capitalized on a defensive mistake before setting up Pépé, who calmly swept a first-time finish into the net from inside the six-yard box.
The early breakthrough settled the Elephants, who controlled possession throughout the first half while limiting Curaçao’s opportunities. The Caribbean nation, still harboring hopes of advancing after earning its first-ever World Cup point in a scoreless draw against Ecuador, struggled to create meaningful chances against the disciplined Ivorian defense.
Curaçao entered the tournament as one of the World Cup’s feel-good stories, making its debut on football’s biggest stage. Despite suffering a heavy 7-1 defeat to Germany in its opening match, Dick Advocaat’s squad responded with a resilient performance against Ecuador to remain alive heading into the decisive group finale.
However, those hopes were dashed just after the hour mark when Ivory Coast doubled its advantage. Nottingham Forest midfielder Ibrahim Sangaré threaded a perfectly weighted pass into the path of Pépé, who raced through on goal before firing a clinical finish into the left side of the net in the 64th minute. The Villarreal forward’s second goal of the evening effectively sealed both the victory and Ivory Coast’s passage into the knockout rounds.
With the result, Ivory Coast finishes second in Group E behind Germany and advances to the Round of 32, where it will face either France or Norway. The victory marks a significant milestone for the African nation, which had previously been unable to progress beyond the group stage in its prior World Cup appearances.
For Curaçao, the defeat brings an end to a historic campaign. While the tournament newcomers exit without advancing, they leave with plenty to celebrate after earning their first World Cup point and gaining invaluable experience competing against some of the world’s top footballing nations.
Ivory Coast now turns its attention to the knockout stage, where Pépé’s scoring form and the team’s growing confidence could make the Elephants a dangerous opponent as they chase their deepest-ever World Cup run.
