Ivory Coast Make Historic World Cup Knockout Debut with 2-0 Win Over Curaçao

Ivory Coast booked their place in the World Cup knockout rounds for the first time in their history with a 2-0 victory over Curaçao on Thursday. Two goals from Nicolas Pépé — one in the seventh minute and another in the 64th — sealed the win at the Philadelphia Stadium, sending players to their knees for a team photo and triggering euphoric scenes among fans.

Pépé, who plays for Spanish club Villarreal, opened the scoring early and added a left-footed strike from the far corner in the second half to effectively end Curaçao's hopes. The win capped a successful Group E campaign for Ivory Coast, who had earlier beaten Ecuador 1-0 and lost to Germany in their second group game.

"We aren't setting any limits for ourselves," Pépé said after the match. "I think we have huge potential." His sentiment was echoed by head coach Emerse Faé, a former Ivorian international who took over in January 2024. "We are really pleased," Faé said. "We will celebrate this achievement and enjoy it a bit before starting to prepare for what's to come."

The historic result sparked celebrations thousands of miles away in Abidjan, where supporters filled the streets, danced and waved national flags, according to reports from the Ivorian economic capital. Fans praised Faé and the squad's growing confidence, expressing hope that the team could extend its run.

Ivory Coast will now face either France or Norway in the last 32 on June 30, depending on who finishes as runner-up in Group I. "If we aim to go all the way, it doesn't matter who we play," Pépé said.

For Curaçao, the defeat ended their debut World Cup campaign. They needed a win to have any chance of advancing, but instead became the latest team to exit. The result also had implications elsewhere in Group E: Germany claimed the group despite a loss to Ecuador, a result that combined with Ivory Coast's win to eliminate Curaçao.

Ivory Coast's run has been built on more than just on-field results. The team held its training base in nearby Delaware and practiced at the Philadelphia Union's suburban facility, where they also played a friendly against the Union's second team. That preparation, combined with a thrilling 90th-minute winner against Ecuador in their opener at the same stadium, helped Les Éléphants find a supportive crowd — about 40% of Curaçao's population attended Thursday's game at the home of the NFL's Eagles.