Curaçao 0-2 Côte d’Ivoire: Pepe double confirms knockout place for Ivory Coast | OneFootball

Nicolas Pepe’s double against Curaçao has confirmed Côte d’Ivoire’s progression to the round of 32 at the 2026 FIFA World Cup, where they will face France or Norway.

The former Arsenal man scored both sides of the break in Philadelphia to book his nation’s place in the FIFA World Cup knockout stages for the first time in history and bring an end to Curaçao’s maiden appearance at the tournament.

Having won two FIFA World Cup group stage games for the first time, Côte d’Ivoire will now face the Group I runners-up – guaranteed to be either France or Norway – at the Dallas Stadium on Tuesday 30 June.

As it happened

A bright start from Curaçao – looking to become the lowest-ranked nation to ever qualify for the knockout stages at a FIFA World Cup – saw Sheffield United’s Tahith Chong unleash a shot from the edge of the box, although it was swung straight at Yahia Fofana between the sticks.

That missed opportunity to take the lead swiftly came back to bite Curaçao, who fell behind with 7 minutes on the clock when Yan Diomande capitalised on a poor defensive clearance to dart towards the byline and pull the ball back for the onrushing Nicolas Pepe to thrash home from six yards out.

Having let a one-goal lead – and a 14-game unbeaten run – slip last time out against Germany, Côte d’Ivoire looked to double their lead to cement their progression to the knockout stages as the Group I runners up.

Manchester United’s Amad Diallo sought to pick out the bottom corner but could only watch in despair as he failed to get sufficient curl on his strike, and he was blocked by his captain Franck Kessié 10 minutes later as he attempted to turn home from another Diomande delivery.

Curaçao threatened to equalise just before the break when Leandro Bacuna found extra gas in the tank on the left flank and darted into the penalty area, only to send his effort off target.

Côte d’Ivoire emerged from the break and wasted no time in their attempt to wrap up a comfortable win over the minnows, but Guela Doue’s cross for Diomande came to nothing as the in-demand Leipzig teenager failed to connect cleanly.

Eloy Room – whose 15 saves in Curaçao’s 0-0 draw with Ecuador set the record for the most saves in a World Cup match since records began – was very nearly caught out as Kessié’s strike from range took a deflection, though it flew just wide of goal.

But the African side did eventually find their second goal of the game shortly after the hour mark when Ibrahim Sangaré played Pepe through on goal, allowing the Villarreal man to curl a precise effort into the far corner to double his tally.

Late drama – including calls for an Ivorian penalty, a tight-angled shot from Elye Wahi and a Curaçao counterattack that forced Fofana to tip Tyrese Noslin’s speculative long-range strike over the bar – did not affect the outcome for either side as Côte d’Ivoire progress to the knockout stages of a FIFA World Cup to the first time in history, with France or Norway awaiting in the round of 32. Curaçao’s debut tournament comes to an end, having picked up one point in their goalless meeting with Ecuador.