Ivory Coast has advanced to the World Cup knockout phase for the first time in its history. In a match held in Philadelphia, the West Africans secured a 2-0 victory over Curaçao, who were making their first World Cup appearance.
Nicolas Pépé was the standout performer, scoring both goals to seal the win. The double justified Pépé's selection and helped restore his reputation as a key striker for the team. Manager Emerse Fae stated that the team's performances in their first two matches proved they were worthy of a place in the elimination rounds.
With six points, Ivory Coast finished as runners-up in Group E, behind Germany. They will now move on to the round of 32, where they are scheduled to play in Texas on Tuesday. Their opponent will be the second-place finisher from Group I, either France or Norway.