Elephants vs Curacao – Easy route to the knockouts or an epic embarrassment?

Everything is on the line in Group E as Ivory Coast and Curacao prepare for a decisive showdown on Wednesday, with a place in the 2026 World Cup last 32 up for grabs.

Both sides arrive knowing exactly what is at stake: a win guarantees progression to the knockout phase, while Ivory Coast would also advance with a draw. For Curacao, however, only victory will be enough to keep their historic campaign alive.

The stakes are especially significant given the context. Curacao are competing at their first-ever World Cup, while the Ivory Coast are still searching for a breakthrough after previous group-stage exits in 2006, 2010, and 2014.

So far, the Elephants have delivered mixed but encouraging performances. They opened with a narrow 1–0 win over Ecuador before suffering a heartbreaking stoppage-time defeat to Germany. Head coach Emerse Fae will be confident that his team can recover quickly and secure the result needed to finish second in the group.

Curacao, on the other hand, have already provided one of the tournament’s surprise stories. A heavy 7–1 defeat to Germany in their opener threatened to end their run early, but a disciplined goalless draw against Ecuador kept their hopes alive. Dick Advocaat’s side now face a simple task on paper but a difficult one in reality: beat Ivory Coast or go home.

Before the tournament, even the most optimistic supporters in Ivory Coast would likely have accepted a final group game where qualification was still in their hands. Now, that scenario is reality.

The Elephants have shown both resilience and quality, edging one thriller and narrowly losing another. Yan Diomande has stood out as one of the breakout performers of the competition, while the squad will be confident they can be more clinical than Ecuador were against Curacao.

Tactically, this represents a different challenge for the African side, who are expected to control possession and dictate the tempo. Curacao’s best hope lies in staying compact, absorbing pressure, and looking for opportunities on the counterattack. Anything other than a Ivory Coast win would be a major upset.

Advocaat has a near full-strength squad available. After the heavy defeat to Germany, he switched to a more cautious five-man defensive setup against Ecuador, a change that brought stability, helped by goalkeeper Room’s strong performance and Ecuador’s wasteful finishing.

Curacao's World Cup hero Room becomes immortal

There is some positive news on the injury front, with striker Jürgen Locadia expected to be fit despite a knock in the previous match.

Ivory Coast will be without Wilfried Singo after he picked up a hamstring injury against Germany. Guela Doue is expected to step in at right-back.

Elsewhere, Fae is likely to stick with a similar attacking setup, relying on the pace and creativity of Yan Diomande and Amad Diallo, with Ange-Yoan Bonny leading the line.

WORLD CUP - GROUP STAGE (ROUND 3)

Group E

Thursday

23.00: (16.0) Curacao (7.50) Ivory Coast (1.18)

23.00: (4.20) Ecuador (3.60) Germany (1.95)

***odds are subject to change***