No previous meetings between these teams.
-
1
Franck Kessie1 - 2
Livano Comenencia1 - 3Amad Diallo1
- 1Seko Fofana5
- 2Livano Comenencia5
- 3Juninho Bacuna4
- 4Leandro Bacuna4
- 5Yan Diomande3
- 6Amad Diallo3
- 7Elye Wahi2
- 8Ghislain Konan2
- 9Nicolas Pépé2
- 10Franck Kessie2
- 1Ibrahim Sangaré4
- 2Emmanuel Agbadou4
- 3Sherel Floranus3
- 4Juninho Bacuna3
- 5Yan Diomande3
- 6Franck Kessie2
- 7Joshua Brenet2
- 8Juriën Gaari2
- 9Christ Inao Oulaï2
- 10Amad Diallo2
- 1Wilfried Singo1
- 1Yan Diomande7
- 2Juninho Bacuna3
- 3Amad Diallo3
- 4Guéla Doué2
- 5Leandro Bacuna2
- 6Sontje Hansen2
- 7Tahith Chong2
- 8Livano Comenencia2
- 9Ghislain Konan1
- 10Seko Fofana1
- 1Emmanuel Agbadou107
- 2Franck Kessie84
- 3Wilfried Singo73
- 4Ghislain Konan68
- 5Leandro Bacuna66
- 6Yan Diomande60
- 7Guéla Doué53
- 8Christ Inao Oulaï53
- 9Armando Obispo50
- 10Odilon Kossounou49
- 1Tahith Chong9
- 2Yan Diomande8
- 3Amad Diallo6
- 4Christ Inao Oulaï5
- 5Wilfried Singo5
- 6Juninho Bacuna4
- 7Ghislain Konan3
- 8Nicolas Pépé3
- 9Deveron Fonville2
- 10Leandro Bacuna2
- 1Juninho Bacuna5
- 2Livano Comenencia5
- 3Emmanuel Agbadou4
- 4Armando Obispo4
- 5Wilfried Singo4
- 6Sherel Floranus3
- 7Deveron Fonville3
- 8Yan Diomande3
- 9Christ Inao Oulaï3
- 10Odilon Kossounou3
Ivory Coast look to secure their place in the knockout stages when they face Curacao in Group E at the 2026 World Cup on Thursday. Kick-off is scheduled for 9pm (UK time) on Thursday 25th June at Lincoln Financial Field, Philadelphia.
Emerse Fae’s side beat Ecuador 1-0 on matchday one before conceding a dramatic late double to lose 2-1 to Germany, despite leading with 25 minutes remaining. Three points and a superior head-to-head record over Ecuador means a draw guarantees the Elephants second place in Group E.
Curacao, the smallest nation by population ever to compete at a World Cup, suffered a heavy 7-1 hammering against Germany on matchday one before producing a remarkable defensive display to earn a goalless draw against Ecuador. That single point leaves them needing a victory in Philadelphia, combined with results elsewhere, to extend their fairytale debut.
Curacao vs Ivory Coast predictions & betting tips
| Our Prediction | Odds & Bookmaker | Confidence | Why We’re Backing It |
|---|---|---|---|
| Amad Diallo to score anytime | 7/5 @ Spreadex (41.7%) | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ | Diallo scored the late winner against Ecuador and is Ivory Coast’s most dangerous creative outlet in the final third. The Manchester United forward drifts inside off the right onto his stronger left foot and carries a genuine goal threat every time he receives the ball in space. Curacao’s defence sat deep against Ecuador and conceded seven to Germany. Against a more open Curacao side that must push forward to win, Diallo will find pockets of space to exploit. At the available price, backing him to score is the standout selection in this fixture. |
| Ivory Coast to win and over 2.5 goals | 8/13 @ Sky Bet (61.9%) | ⭐⭐ | Ivory Coast carry the attacking quality of Diallo, Yan Diomande and Ange-Yoan Bonny into this fixture against a Curacao side that conceded seven against Germany. Curacao must attack to keep their slim qualification hopes alive, which will open space for Ivory Coast to exploit on the counter. Faé’s side have scored in all five of their last five matches and will face a side with nothing to lose. The combination of Ivory Coast’s quality and Curacao’s attacking necessity makes over 2.5 goals a compelling proposition. |
Odds correct at time of writing. Please gamble responsibly.
How both teams head into Curacao vs Ivory Coast
Curacao
Curacao arrive in Philadelphia having already made World Cup history simply by reaching this stage. Dick Advocaat’s side are the smallest nation by population ever to compete at a World Cup. Their journey to Philadelphia has been extraordinary – qualifying from CONCACAF as underdogs and now competing on the global stage for the first time. One point from two games does not tell the full story of their campaign.
Goalkeeper Eloy Room produced one of the tournament’s great individual displays against Ecuador, making 15 saves across 90 minutes – the joint-most in a single World Cup match since records began in 1966, matching Tim Howard’s benchmark against Belgium in 2014. Room will need to replicate that heroism and more if Curacao are to spring the upset that keeps their knockout dreams alive.
The challenge is immense. Prior to the tournament, Curacao were beaten 4-1 by Scotland, 5-1 by Australia, and 2-0 by China. Their pre-tournament record underlines the quality gap they face against an Ivory Coast side boasting Premier League regulars across every position. Advocaat knows his side must attack, yet doing so against Diallo and Diomande in transition carries its own risk. A Curacao win here would rank among the great shocks in World Cup history.
Ivory Coast
Ivory Coast arrive carrying the confidence of a side that knows their destiny remains firmly in their own hands. Fae’s side were the only team not to concede across their entire CAF qualifying campaign. That defensive discipline was evident against Ecuador, where a clean sheet underpinned Diallo’s late winner. Against Germany, the Elephants demonstrated real quality. They led until the 68th minute before two Deniz Undav strikes crushed their hopes of maximum points.
The 2023 Africa Cup of Nations winners enter this fixture knowing a draw secures their place in the last 32. Ivory Coast have never previously progressed beyond the World Cup group stage, suffering three consecutive eliminations before failing to qualify for the 2018 and 2022 tournaments. Thursday represents their clearest opportunity in over a decade to change that record.
Fae has built a physically imposing, tactically disciplined side capable of competing with the best. He moved Ivory Coast towards a more defensive shape following their chaotic 2023 AFCON triumph, with Evan Ndicka a key pillar at the back. That same defensive foundation, combined with the pace of Diallo and Diomande in transition, gives the Elephants a potent formula against a Curacao side that must open up to stay in the tournament
Curacao team news
Advocaat is expected to name an unchanged side after an heroic defensive display against Ecuador. Eloy Room retains his place in goal and carries the hopes of an entire nation on his shoulders. Joshua Brenet, Jurien Gaari, Armando Obispo, Sherel Floranus and Deveron Fonville are expected to provide the defensive cover in front of him.
Tahith Chong, Livano Comenencia and the Bacuna brothers – Leandro and Juninho – are expected to operate in midfield. Comenencia scored Curacao’s historic first-ever World Cup goal against Germany and carries real quality in the centre of the park. Jürgen Locadia leads the line and must hold the ball up effectively to give Curacao any outlet on the counter.
Ivory Coast team news
Fae faces at least one enforced change after Wilfried Singo was forced off with an apparent hamstring injury against Germany. The Galatasaray defender is unlikely to feature against Curacao, with Guela Doue expected to replace him at right-back.
Evan Ndicka has returned to team training after missing the opening two group games with a thigh injury. Thursday will reveal whether the Roma centre-back is ready to start. Agbadou and Kossounou are expected to continue their partnership at centre-back, with Konan completing the back four.
Franck Kessie and Ibrahim Sangare are expected to anchor the midfield, with Christ Inao Oulai operating ahead of them. Kessie scored against Germany and captains the side. Amad Diallo, Ange-Yoan Bonny and Yan Diomande complete the attacking line and will fancy their chances against a Curacao defence pushed higher than they would like.
Head-to-Head
Curacao and Ivory Coast have no previous senior international history. Thursday’s Group E finale in Philadelphia is a first-ever meeting between the two nations on any stage. With no head-to-head data to draw on, current form, squad quality and the group table tell the whole story heading into kick-off.
Will Ivory Coast get the point they need or will the Curacao story continue?
Both nations enter Thursday’s fixture chasing a piece of history. Ivory Coast need only a draw to secure their first-ever World Cup knockout qualification. Curacao need a win and results elsewhere to go their way – a scenario that demands everything Advocaat’s side can give.
We’re backing Amad Diallo to be the difference-maker in Philadelphia. Odds of 7/5 with Spreadex for Diallo to score anytime reflects his growing influence as Ivory Coast’s most dangerous attacking threat and Curacao’s vulnerability to direct, pacy forwards.
For a combined play, Ivory Coast to win and over 2.5 goals at 8/13 with Sky Bet reflects the gulf in squad quality and the open nature a Curacao side with nothing to lose will create.
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