Ivory Coast will look to secure second place in Group E when they face Curacao at Philadelphia Stadium on Thursday afternoon.
Curacao must get a win in order to continue their first-ever visit to the tournament, but my Ivory Coast vs. Curacao predictions are backing The Elephants to win convincingly as they lock up their place in the knockout stage.
Read on for my World Cup picks for Thursday, June 25, with the match kicking off at 4 p.m. ET.
TOP PICK
Who will win Ivory Coast vs Curacao: Ivory Coast -2.5 (+134)
Take nothing away from Curacao. Their draw against Ecuador is one of the best results in recent World Cup history, and something they should rightly celebrate. Dick Advocaat’s squad should exit with their heads held high, especially record-setting GK Eloy Room.
He denied Ecuador time and again, making 15 saves and keeping the South American side at bay. That said, Ecuador didn’t do itself any favors.
First, Ecuador’s 2.84 xG looks impressive on its own. But then you watch how many shots were mis-hit or struck directly at Room, and it makes sense that Ecuador only recorded a 2.27 xG on target metric.
Ecuador also simply can’t finish. If Enner Valencia’s not scoring—and he’s wasted so many chances in this tournament—then nobody is.
Room won’t get that luxury against Ivory Coast, a side with impressive attacking talent. Amad Diallo and Yan Diomande both bring a real threat on the outside area. Diomande’s six chances directly from progressive carries are the most of any player through the first two matchdays.
This match will much more closely resemble the Germany outing than the meeting with Ecuador. They won’t concede seven, but they will lose by at least three goals.
This is my top pick, and I'd play this down to +120.
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Ivory Coast vs Curacao Over/Under pick: Over 3.5 (+134)
Curacao still have a chance to go through to the knockout stages. However, it will require a win, and thus coming out of their shell.
I don’t see why they won’t be willing to take the risk. This is a spot where Curacao has nothing to lose, as another scoreless draw does them no good. And if the Ivory Coast gets a goal inside the first half hour, as I expect they will, then the match flow will make the Over a strong value.
Ivory Coast have 61 penalty-area touches through two matches, ranking inside the Top 10, while Curacao’s 106 touches allowed are the most behind only Qatar.
That’s with Curacao sitting back in the second-lowest depth behind only Cape Verde, pressing opponents just 32.1 meters from their own goal. Their 25.8 passes per defensive action also ranks fifth-lowest.
Curacao gives off the vibe that they’ll fight to the death, and they showed against Germany that they're good for a goal. They also showed a counter-attacking threat against Ecuador, with 10 shots despite just 25% possession.
We should see goals, and I'll back 4+ being scored, all the way down to +125.
Ivory Coast vs Curacao projected lineup
Ivory Coast (4-3-3): Fofana; Doue, Kossounou, Agbadou, Konan; Kessie, Sangare, Oulai; Amad, Bonny, Diomande.
Curacao (5-4-1): Room; Brenet, Gaari, Obispo, Floranus, Fonville; Chong, Comenencia, L. Bacuna, J. Bacuna; Locadia
Ivory Coast vs Curacao injuries
Ivory Coast: Singo (Out).
Curacao: No injuries to report.
Ivory Coast vs Curacao weather
It’s going to be a warm and muggy day in Philly. Players will encounter a heat index of 89 F and a 47% chance of rain, with winds of 8-12 mph.
Ivory Coast vs Curacao odds
| Ivory Coast | Curacao | |
|---|---|---|
| -567 | Moneyline | +809 |
| +1567 | Draw | +1567 |
| Over 3.5 (+144) | Total | Under 3.5 (-150) |
Odds courtesy of Kalshi.
How to watch Ivory Coast vs Curacao
Check out FIFA's official 2026 World Cup website for more information.
| Location | Lincoln Financial Field, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania |
| Date | Thursday, June 25, 2026 |
| Time | 4 p.m. ET |
| TV | FS1 |
Odds are correct at the time of publishing and are subject to change.
Not intended for use in MA.
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