Pepe double sends Ivory Coast through as Curacao's historic WC campaign ends

Curacao vs Ivory Coast; FIFA World Cup Group E Curacao vs Ivory Coast. FIFA World Cup Group E. Philadelphia StadiumAttendance68,324. World Cup 2026: Curacao 0-2 Ivory Coast - Former Arsenal forward Nicolas Pepe sends Les Elephants through to knockout stages Match report from the World Cup Group E match between Curacao and Ivory Coast in Philadelphia as former Arsenal forward Nicolas Pepe scored twice to send Les Elephants into the knockout stages for the first time ever Thursday 25 June 2026 23:20, UK Former Arsenal forward Nicolas Pepe scored twice as Ivory Coast secured second-place in Group E with a comfortable 2-0 win over Curacao. The result sent Emerse Fae's side into the World Cup knockout stages for the first time in history and ensured the debutants finished bottom of the pile. Les Elephants only needed a point to finish as runners-up, but they took control early on and went in front inside seven minutes when Liverpool target Yan Diomande took advantage of Curacao failing to clear their lines to square for Pepe, who slotted smartly into the bottom right corner. - As it happened | Teams | Stats | Group E guide - World Cup day-by-day schedule | Latest: World Cup - Follow our World Cup coverage in the Sky Sports App It should have been 2-0 before the 20-minute mark but under pressure, Amad Diallo scuffed another Diomande cross wide. Curacao did not lose spirit, with Jurien Gaari, Tahith Chong and Leandro Bacuna all managing shots, but a combined xG of just 0.13 illustrated the lack of definitive threat they carried. While they trailed by just one goal, Dick Advocaat's side possessed the more urgency of the two teams after the break - until their hopes suffered a hammer blow just after the hour, when Ibrahim Sangare set Pepe free in the box with a glorious ball. He opened his body and coolly fired a second past Eloy Room that secured Ivory Coast's historic progression and broke Curacao hearts.