World Cup 2026: Pepe’s Double Ends Curaçao Dream As Ivory Coast Make History

Pepe brace sends Ivory Coast to first ever World Cup last 32  

Nicolas Pepr’s brace and Ibrahim Sangare’s assist helped Ivory Coast beat Curacao 2-0. Emerse Faé’s side sealed second in Group E and set up a last-32 clash with Group I runners-up France or Norway.

Ivory Coast reach World Cup Knockout phase after 2-0 win over Curacao... 

Nicolas Pepe scored twice to send Ivory Coast into the World Cup knockout rounds for the first time. The Elephants beat Curacao 2-0 in Philadelphia to finish second in Group E and knock the tournament debutants out.

Curacao coach Dick Advocaat stuck with the same XI that held Ecuador 0-0. Ivory Coast boss Emerse Fae, meanwhile, shuffled his pack with four changes - three of them at the back - for the must-win match.

Pepe was the attacking change for Fae, and the Villarreal winger wasted no time. He struck in the 7th minute, slamming home Yan Diomande’s cutback from close range for his first-ever World Cup goal.

Jurien Gaari nearly pulled Curacao level right away, his shot skimming just wide. Ivory Coast should’ve made it 2-0 soon after, but Franck Kessie and Amad Diallo collided as both tried to connect with Diomande’s cross.

The Elephants kept control through the rest of the first half and mostly forced Curacao into shots from range. Leandro Bacuna did create one opening on the stroke of halftime, driving into the box and dragging his effort past the near post.

Advocaat’s side came out for the second half knowing two goals were needed to keep their World Cup run alive. They nearly conceded again almost immediately though, as Kessie’s strike took a big deflection and whistled just wide. Sherel Floranus responded at the other end with a shot over the bar, but Curacao struggled to create anything clear-cut.

Pepe made them pay in the 64th minute. He picked up Ibrahim Sangare’s pass and curled a first-time finish into the top corner to kill the game. That goal means seven of Ivory Coast’s last nine World Cup strikes have come after halftime.

Tahith Chong stayed lively and forced Yahia Fofana into a save with 16 minutes left, curling an effort on target. But that was only Curacao’s second shot on goal all game - both from Chong - which summed up their attacking struggles. Ranked 82nd by FIFA, the Blue Wave missed out on becoming the lowest-ranked team ever to make a World Cup knockout round, but they leave with pride intact.

For Ivory Coast, it’s history. They’ve won two matches at the same World Cup for the first time, and now face the Group I runners-up - France or Norway - in the round of 32 in Dallas.