Ivory Coast beat Curacao 2-0 to reach World Cup knockout stage

Ivory Coast has made history by reaching the World Cup knockout stage for the first time, securing a 2-0 win against Curaçao. Nicolas Pepe, a former Arsenal forward now playing for Villarreal, was the architect of this historic achievement, scoring in the seventh minute and again just after the hour mark.

The victory capped a successful group stage for Ivory Coast, who finished with six points in Group E. This followed an opening 1-0 win over Ecuador and a 2-1 loss to Germany. They secured second place behind Germany based on head-to-head results, as Germany simultaneously lost 2-1 to Ecuador. The 2024 African champions had previously been eliminated in the group stage in their three prior World Cup appearances.

For Curaçao, the smallest nation ever to reach the finals, their World Cup journey concludes after finishing at the bottom of the section without a win. Despite a heavy 7-1 defeat to Germany on their debut, the team showed resilience, notably holding Ecuador to a 0-0 draw. Although they couldn't replicate that performance against Ivory Coast, they earned the respect of their fans.

The match, played in Philadelphia, was witnessed by a sell-out crowd of 68,324, highlighting the World Cup's significant impact in the United States. The vibrant atmosphere was enhanced by the presence of numerous Ivory Coast supporters. The team's reward for their historic performance is a last-32 tie against the runners-up of Group I, which could pit them against strong European sides like France or Norway.

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Orange Ivory Coast shirts were visible all around the ground and their fans were soon celebrating as the opening goal arrived early.