Curaçao vs Ivory Coast

Curaçao and Ivory Coast meet in their final Group Stage match of the FIFA World Cup 2026. With Ivory Coast holding a stronger squad and better recent form, this encounter promises a tactical battle with the visitors favoured to take all three points.

Ivory Coast enter this match with three prior World Cup appearances, having reached the group stage previously, while Curaçao make their World Cup debut. Ivory Coast topped their qualifying group with an impressive 26 points and a +25 goal difference, showcasing their strength. Curaçao qualified directly as well but with less dominant statistics. Both teams have played two group matches so far, with Ivory Coast sitting second in the group with 3 points and Curaçao at the bottom with none.

The calibre gap is clear: Ivory Coast boasts 12 players competing in top-five European leagues, including notable names like defender Evan Ndicka of AS Roma and winger Nicolas Pépé of Villarreal. Curaçao's squad, by contrast, features no players from these elite leagues, with most plying their trade in the Eredivisie, Süper Lig, and the English Championship. Ivory Coast's recent form is stronger too, with a points-per-game average of 2.167 compared to Curaçao's 1.625. Ivory Coast's midfield dominance, led by Franck Kessié and Yan Diomande, is expected to control the tempo, while Curaçao rely heavily on midfielder Livano Comenencia for attacking spark.

Given the strong squad quality and better recent form, Ivory Coast are predicted to win 2-0. The visitors are expected to take an early lead and maintain control throughout, with a halftime scoreline of 0-1. The match should see a moderate number of cards, estimated at four, reflecting a competitive but disciplined encounter.