Curaçao vs Ivory Coast: Ivory Coast Need a Win to Reach the Last 16

Predictions

Ivory Coast are big favorites, and a win here sends them into the knockout round.

Curaçao are almost out, but they will want to give their fans one more proud night.

• Our prediction: Ivory Coast win 2-0, with their stronger attack getting through in the end.
• Sports Mole: Ivory Coast win 2-0, with their attack too good for Curaçao.
• SportsLine (Martin Green): an Ivory Coast win, leaning over 3.5 goals in the game.
• Racing Post: an Ivory Coast win, with Amad Diallo to score and the Curaçao keeper kept very busy.

What do Ivory Coast need to go through?

Ivory Coast sit 2nd in Group E on 3 points, and the math is simple for them.

A win takes them to 6 points and almost certainly into the next round.

Even a draw might be enough, depending on the other game in the group.

They got here by beating Ecuador 1-0 in their opener.

But then they lost 1-2 to Germany, which left them needing a result on the final day.

Why are Ivory Coast the favorites?

Ivory Coast are the champions of Africa, after winning the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations.

Their most dangerous player is forward Amad Diallo of Manchester United, who wears the number 15 shirt and loves to run straight at defenders.

Alongside him, the number 8 Franck Kessié keeps everything ticking in midfield.

The bookmakers love them here, with Ivory Coast priced at about -290, which is roughly a 74% chance to win.

Curaçao sit way out at about +750, so on paper this is a big mismatch.

You can turn these odds into your preferred format with our odds converter.

Can Curaçao cause a shock?

Curaçao are the smallest nation ever to reach a World Cup, with a population of only around 150,000 people.

Their coach is the very experienced Dutchman Dick Advocaat, who has managed teams all over the world.

They started their tournament with a brutal 7-1 defeat to Germany.

But then they held Ecuador to a 0-0 draw for a brave and famous point.

On 1 point with a goal difference of minus 6, they are almost out.

To have any chance they would need to beat Ivory Coast, and then still hope to finish as one of the best 3rd-place teams across all the groups.

Our call: Ivory Coast 2-0

We are going with Ivory Coast 2-0.

They have the better players and the bigger reason to win.

We think they score early and control the game from there.

But Curaçao showed against Ecuador that they can defend, so Ivory Coast may need to be patient.

What is at stake in Group E?

Germany are already through on 6 points, so the second place in the group is the real prize here.

Ivory Coast have 3 points, while Ecuador and Curaçao have 1 point each.

Finish in the top 2 of the group and you go through to the next round, and a few of the best 3rd-place teams across all groups join them.

Both final Group E games kick off at the exact same time, this one and Ecuador vs Germany.

So everyone is watching two scoreboards at once, and the table can change in a single minute.

Where and when can you watch?

The game is on Thursday June 25, 2026, at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia.

Kickoff is 16:00 (4:00 PM) Eastern time.

You can also see all the details on the match page.

Need a seat for it? Take a look at our World Cup tickets guide.