JuicyTalk
Curacao are still in with a chance of qualifying for the knockout stages of the World Cup but they require a win over the Ivory Coast tonight.
Dick Advocaat’s men earned a draw with Ecuador last time out, banishing the memory of their 7-1 hammering by Germany.
Ivory Coast’s opening win over Ecuador has put them in a strong position to go through alongside the Germans as they attempt to reach the World Cup knockout stage for the first time.
| P | W | D | L | F | A | GD | Points | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Germany | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 9 | 2 | +7 | 6 |
| Ivory Coast | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 3 |
| Ecuador | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | -1 | 1 |
| Curacao | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 7 | -6 | 1 |
Where to watch Curacao v Ivory Coast: TV channel, live online streams
Kick-off on Thursday is at 21:00 BST (18:00 ET / 15:00 PT). In the UK, live coverage is on BBC Two.
Streaming on a vast range of devices is available through the BBC iPlayer app and BBC Sport website.
World Cup 2026: Curacao v Ivory Coast stats
- Curacao are World Cup debutants alongside Cape Verde, Jordan and Uzbekistan, representing the most newcomers since the 2006 edition, when six teams made their bow at the tournament. The last debutants to reach the knockout stage were Slovakia in 2010
- They are the first CONCACAF debutants at the World Cup since Panama in 2018 and could become the first side from that confederation to progress from the group stage on their debut since Costa Rica in 1990 (round of 16).
- As well as scoring the most goals in CONCACAF World Cup qualifying (28), Curacao also led the way for expected goals (22.7), with their four goals from high turnovers only bettered by Costa Rica (6)
- In CONCACAF qualifying, no player created more chances from open play than Curacao’s Juninho Bacuna (20)
- Kastaneer scored two more goals than any of his teammates in qualifying
- In their fourth appearance at the World Cup and their first since 2014, Ivory Coast could progress past the group stage for the first time
- Ivory Coast did not concede a single goal in their 10 qualifying matches for the FIFA World Cup; they were one of two teams in the CAF qualifiers to achieve that feat, alongside Tunisia
- Fifteen different players scored for Ivory Coast in qualifying, which is more than any other nation (Tunisia next, on 14)
- Simon Adingra was involved in more goals than any other Ivory Coast player in qualifying (5 – 2 goals, 3 assists) and was also one of only two players to feature in every single qualifier
- Fae is managing at his first World Cup and was part of Ivory Coast’s squad for the country’s World Cup debut in 2006, although he did not feature at that tournament
