After squandering a lead and losing 2-1 to Germany in the second round, Ivory Coast boss Emerse Faé says the team is ready to make history by reaching the World Cup knockout stages for the first time.
Amad Diallo’s 90-minute winning goal against Ecuador in the opening match means the Elephants are still well positioned to advance to the last eight when they face Curaçao – who are making their championship debut – in Philadelphia on Thursday.
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“Our destiny is in our own hands and our own feet,” Faé told FIFA.
“I really think we have what it takes to make it. We also have the will. We have been through tough periods, but the squad has managed to stay united and united all the time.
Eloy Room healed the pain of the 7-1 loss to Germany in Curaçao’s first-ever World Cup match by making a record 15 saves in the 0-0 draw with Ecuador.
Dick Advocaat’s team will be in a very good position to reach the last eight if they surprise against a team ranked 50 places above them by FIFA.
“You put me in good company with Lionel Messi,” Room told one journalist who suggested that his performance was as memorable as Argentina’s captain’s hat-trick against Algeria.
“When you think about it, it’s legendary. But I wasn’t concerned with all that – I was concerned with stopping the balls and making sure we got a point. The rest we’ll see later.
Group E winners Germany face Ecuador in the simultaneous final match in New Jersey – a team that must win to have any hope of progressing.
| P | W | D | L | F | A | DG | Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Germany | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 9 | 2 | +7 |
| Côte d’Ivoire | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 0 |
| Ecuador | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | -1 |
| Curaçao | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 7 | -6 |
World Cup 2026: Team news for Curaçao against Ivory Coast
Ivory Coast defender Wilfried Singo is a doubt with a femoral neck injury sustained against Germany, but centre-back Evan Ndicka could get his first game in the championship after returning to training from the same injury.
Middlesbrough winger Sontje Hansen has not played for Curaçao since he was substituted at half-time against Germany. Gervane Kastaneer, who was the Blue Wave’s top scorer in the qualifiers with five goals, has come on seven minutes before the end in both games – and could get more time with victory as the only option.
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Curaçao v Ivory Coast: Predicted line-ups for the 2026 World Cup
Curaçao starting eleven (4-2-3-1): Eloy Room – Joshua Brenet, Jurien Gaari, Armando Obispo, Sherel Floranus – Deveron Fonville, Tahith Chong – Livano Comenencia, Leandro Bacuna, Juninho Bacuna – Jurgen Locadia
Ivory Coast starting eleven (4-3-3): Yahia Fofana – Guéla Doué, Odilon Kossounou, Emmanuel Agbadou, Ghislain Konan – Amad Diallo, Franck Kessié, Ibrahim Sangaré – Christ Inao Oulai, Yan Diomandé, Ange-Yoan Bonny
World Cup 2026: Curaçao vs Ivory Coast statistics
- Curaçao makes its World Cup debut alongside Cape Verde, Jordan and Uzbekistan – the most debutants since 2006, when six teams participated for the first time. The last debutant to reach the knockout stages was Slovakia in 2010.
- They are the first CONCACAF World Cup debutant since Panama in 2018 and could become the first team from the federation to advance from the group stage in their debut since Costa Rica in 1990 (round of eight).
- Curaçao scored the most goals in the CONCACAF qualifiers (28) and also led in expected goals (22.7). Their four goals after high ball losses were only surpassed by Costa Rica (6).
- No player created more chances from open play in the CONCACAF qualifiers than Curaçao’s Juninho Bacuna (20).
- Kastaneer scored two more goals than any of his teammates in qualifying.
- Ivory Coast is in its fourth World Cup and its first since 2014 – and can advance from the group stage for the first time.
- Ivory Coast did not concede a single goal in their ten qualifiers – one of two teams in the CAF qualifiers with that feat, along with Tunisia.
- Fifteen different players scored for Ivory Coast in qualifying – more than any other nation (Tunisia second with 14).
- Simon Adingra was involved in the most goals of any Ivory Coast player in the qualifiers (5 – 2 goals, 3 assists) and was one of only two players to play in all qualifiers.
- Faé is in his first World Cup as a coach, but was part of the Ivory Coast squad in his country’s World Cup debut in 2006 – although he did not play in that championship.
World Cup 2026: Curaçao vs Ivory Coast prediction
Curaçao 0–3 Côte d’Ivoire
Room will be hoping for more heroics and historic moments, but Ivory Coast have won ten of their last 12 games against teams ranked below them (and drawn two). They can reasonably be expected to move on comfortably.
