Nicolas Pepe Brace Sends Ivory Coast Through as Curaçao Exit
Nicolas Pepe scored twice in Philadelphia to give Côte d'Ivoire a comfortable 2-0 win over Curaçao, sealing their place in the knockout rounds of the 2026 World Cup.
C ôte d'Ivoire advanced from Group E with a 2-0 victory over Curaçao at Philadelphia Stadium on Thursday, with Nicolas Pepe delivering a composed brace to settle the contest.
Pepe broke the deadlock in the seventh minute with a crisp finish, and despite picking up a yellow card before the break, he returned in the second half to double the advantage with another precise effort in the 64th minute.
Curaçao, competing at their first World Cup, showed spirit throughout but could not find a way past the Ivory Coast defence.
Côte d'Ivoire advance from Group E. Curaçao exit the tournament.