Curacao and Ivory Coast meet in the 2026 World Cup on Thursday at 9pm (UK time), with both hoping to qualify for the knockout stages.
Nobody will have backed Curacao to still be in with a change of knockout-stage qualification going into the final round of fixtures. But they do have hope, albeit very slim. Curacao’s World Cup debut saw them beaten 7-1 by World Cup, a rude welcome to the tournament. They bounced back to hold Ecuador to a goalless draw in their second game, keeping things alive. Curacao need to beat Ivory Coast and hope Ecuador drop points against Germany to secure second. A win alone is likely to be enough for safe passage as one of the best third-placed sides, though.
Ivory Coast, on the other hand, only need a point to secure second in Group E. They opened the tournament with a slender 1-0 win over Ecuador, thanks to Amad Diallo’s 90th-minute winner. It means the South Americans cannot finish above them if they are level on points — which would happen if Ivory Coast draw and Ecuador win. But 2-1 defeat to Germany last time out means that Ivory Coast cannot top the group no matter what happens.
Unsurprisingly, this will be the first-ever meeting between these two sides.
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Curacao vs Ivory Coast team news
Curacao team news
Dick Advocaat will be hoping to have Jurgen Locadia available for this game, after he came off injured late on in the draw with Ecuador. Locadia has led the line for Curacao in each of their two World Cup matches so far, and is a key focal point — even though he is yet to score. Should he not be back, Gervane Kastaneer will be the main striker in what’s expected to be a 5-4-1 again.
Advocaat switched from a back four to a back five across the first two games, with considerable results. So the Dutchman should continue with the more defensive setup, looking to catch Ivory Coast on the counter. With Locadia as the striker, Juninho Bacuna should continue on the left-wing, with Tahith Chong on the right ahead of Sontje Hansen. Livano Comenencia and Leandro Bacuna will be the central midfield pairing.
Jurien Gaari came in to replace Riechedly Bazoer in the Curucao defence, while Joshua Brenet was brought in at right wing-back. Brenet’s introduction saw Sherel Floranus moved inside to one of the centre-back spaces, joining Gaari and Armando Obispo. Deveron Fonville will complete the defence, with Eloy Room in goal.
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Ivory Coast team news
Wilfried Singo had to come off injured late on in the defeat to Germany, and is expected to miss the final group game. He’ll be replaced in the starting lineup by Guela Doue, who had started at right-back in the opening match. The rest of the backline should remain unchanged, with Emmanuel Agbadou partnered by Odilon Koussounou at centre-back, and Ghislain Konan at left-back.
Emerse Fae has moved his midfield around in the two games, but is likely to keep the three-man setup given the success against Germany, even in defeat. Chris Inao Oulai shone in that match and will have done enough to keep his spot in the starting XI, alongside Ibrahim Sangare and Franck Kessie. Seko Fofana is another option for that deeper midfield role.
Ange-Yoan Bonny was given his first-ever start for Ivory Coast in the defeat to Germany, with Elye Wahi dropping out. Wahi may remain out of the team, with Bonny doing well enough. But there could still be a change in the attack. Yan Diomande should start on the right, while Nicolas Pepe may get the nod ahead of Amad Diallo on the right.
Curacao vs Ivory Coast predicted lineups
Curacao (5-4-1): Room; Brenet, Obispo, Gaari, Floranus, Fonville; Chong, L Bacuna, Comenencia, J Bacuna; Locadia.
Ivory Coast (4-3-3): Y Fofana; Doue, Kossounou, Agbadou, Konan; Kessie, Sangare, Inao Ouali; Pepe, Bonny, Diomande.
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