Nicolas Pepe stars as Ivory Coast into HISTORIC FIFA World Cup knockout stage

Philadelphia: Ivory Coast kept their FIFA World Cup 2026 dream alive with a impressive performance in their final Group E match, getting the result they needed to advance to the knockout stages. Backed by another influential performance from one of their most experienced attackers, the African side showed their quality at crucial moments to book a place in the Round of 32.

The victory ensured Ivory Coast finished second in Group E and set up a knockout clash against either France or Norway in Dallas next week.

Pepe strikes early to set the tone

Ivory Coast made the perfect start at Philadelphia Stadium and wasted little time taking control of the contest.

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Just seven minutes into the match, Yan Diomande won possession high up the pitch and quickly squared the ball across the box. Nicolas Pepe was in the right place to finish from close range and give his side an early advantage.

The goal immediately put the pressure on Curacao who needed a positive result to keep their hopes alive.

Pepe’s strike also entered the record books as the fastest goal ever scored by Ivory Coast in a FIFA World Cup match.

Curacao fight hard but lack final touch

After conceding early, Curacao attempted to respond and pushed more players forward in search of an equaliser.

The Caribbean nation had spells of possession and showed plenty of determination but could not create clear-cut chances against a disciplined Ivory Coast defence.

Curacao’s endeavour could not be questioned but the final pass and finishing touch often let them down at key moments.

As the match progressed, Ivory Coast looked increasingly comfortable and dangerous on the counterattack.

Pepe completes the job

The decisive moment arrived midway through the second half.

Ibrahim Sangare picked out the run of Pepe and played a weighted pass into the attacking third. The former Arsenal winger took the ball in his stride and curled a fine left-footed finish into the top corner in the 64th minute.

It effectively ended Curacao’s hopes of a comeback and secured all three points for the Elephants.

Pepe’s brace capped off an outstanding individual display and underlined his importance to the team’s attacking plans.

Historic achievement for Ivory Coast

The win had added significance for Ivory Coast as it secured their first ever qualification for the World Cup knockout stage.

In their previous appearances at the tournament in 2006, 2010 and 2014, the African nation failed to progress beyond the group phase despite possessing talented squads.

This time, however, they have taken the next step and now have the opportunity to continue their impressive run on football’s biggest stage.

For Curacao, the defeat marked the end of a memorable first World Cup campaign. Although their journey ended in the group stage, the experience provided plenty of proud moments for the players and supporters.

Pepe delighted after historic win

After helping his country reach the knockout rounds, Pepe expressed his happiness at achieving a landmark result for Ivory Coast.

“It’s a source of pride and joy. We’ve qualified for the knockout stage, so for the people of Côte d’Ivoire, this is a source of pride. My two goals? It’s all thanks to the team. On the first one, Yan Diomande did a great job setting me up with the ball. The second was a magnificent pass from Ibra’ Ibrahim Sangare, and all I had to do was get my foot on it.

“It’s an individual honour, but also a team one. It’s one game at a time. We’re going to try to go as far as possible, we have the players and the quality to do it. We’ll need to stay focused, rest up, and see who we’ll be playing against,” Pepe said after the game.

With confidence growing and a place in the knockout rounds secured, Ivory Coast will now look to extend their historic World Cup run when they return to action in Dallas.