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Ivory Coast defeated Curacao 2-0 in the final Group E match on June 25, powered by a brace from Nicolas Pepe, to qualify for the World Cup round of 16 for the first time in history. Pepe scored in the 7th and 64th minutes, with assists from Yan Diomande and Ibrahim Sangare. Ivory Coast will face the runner-up of Group I in the knockout round.
Curacao held Ecuador to a 0-0 draw at the 2026 World Cup thanks to a brilliant performance by goalkeeper Eloy Room, who made 15 saves — the most in a World Cup match without extra time since 1966. Room's heroics earned the small Caribbean nation its first ever World Cup point, following a heavy opening defeat to Germany.
Germany beat World Cup debutants Curacao 7-1 in their Group E opener in Houston, marking their first opening-match win since 2014. Goals from Felix Nmecha, Nico Schlotterbeck, Kai Havertz (2), Jamal Musiala, Nathaniel Brown and Deniz Undav powered the rout after Curacao had briefly equalised.
Day 4 of the 2026 World Cup features a blockbuster clash between the Netherlands and Japan, alongside Curacao's historic debut as the smallest nation ever to qualify. Four matches are scheduled for June 14, including Germany vs. Curacao, Ivory Coast vs. Ecuador, and Sweden vs. Tunisia.
With a population of just over 150,000, Curacao has become the smallest nation ever to qualify for a FIFA World Cup. Their fairytale run through CONCACAF qualifying earned them a spot at the 2026 tournament, where they will face Germany, Ecuador and Ivory Coast. The Blue Wave have defied all odds, rising from 150th in the FIFA rankings to 82nd and securing their place in history.
