An intriguing World Cup 2026 Group E gets underway on Sunday, and the second of the two clashes pits the Ivory Coast against Ecuador at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia.
There is little difference in quality between the teams, which is why my Ivory Coast vs. Ecuador predictions favor the underdog, Ivory Coast, to outperform the markets in a low-scoring encounter.
Read on for my World Cup picks for Sunday, June 14, with kickoff at 7:00 p.m. ET on FS1.
TOP PICK
Who will win Ivory Coast vs Ecuador: Draw (+194)
The +257 price on the Ivory Coast may make you believe they are no-hopers. Yet they are anything but and have the quality to pick up a point.
The Elephants are on a run of seven wins from their last nine games (W7-D1-L1) and will have drawn enormous confidence from the impressive second-half performance that saw them secure a 2-1 victory (away) vs highly-fancied France on the eve of the tournament.
Set up in a 4-3-3, the Ivorians are especially dangerous on the wings, where the availability of four excellent players - Amad Diallo, Yan Diomande, Nicolas Pepe, and Simon Adringra - allows them to pose a threat at kickoff and then off the bench when the starters tire.
The form figures show Ecuador is a tough side to overcome, as they are on an undefeated run dating back to September 2024. Yet the stand-out stat is their high draw rate: they have tied 11 of the 19 games they have played since their last loss.
I’m backing the draw as my main pick here, and would play it up to +180.
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Ivory Coast vs Ecuador Over/Under Pick: Under 1.5 (+144)
The line is set at 1.5 rather than 2.5 goals, and that makes perfect sense when you look at these two teams’ form figures.
Ivory Coast achieved the remarkable feat of qualifying for the tournament without conceding a goal. You can question the caliber of the opposition they faced - Gabon, Gambia, Kenya, Burundi, and Seychelles - but keeping 10 consecutive clean sheets confirms the consistently high standard of their defending.
At the other end, they may struggle to score. The Elephants lack an international-class center forward, with their main contenders, Evann Guessand and Elye Wahi, still having plenty to prove at this level.
Ecuador’s 18 qualifying matches produced an average of just 1.06 goals per game, by some distance the lowest figure in the South American sector.
They scored just 14 times - only the bottom two in the South American group, Peru and Chile, scored fewer - but their defensive record was outstanding: they kept 13 clean sheets, conceding just five times in total.
The plus-money price on Under 1.5 Goals is too good to overlook. I’d play it up to +125.
Ivory Coast vs Ecuador projected lineup
Ivory Coast (4-3-3): Y.Fofana; Doue, Singo, Kossounou, Konan; Sangare, Kessie, S.Fofana; Diallo, Wahi, Diomande
Ecuador (3-4-2-1): Galindez; Hincapie, Pacho, Ordonez; Franco, M.Caicedo, Vite, Estupinan; Plata, Yeboah; Valencia
Ivory Coast vs Ecuador injuries
Ivory Coast: Evan Ndicka CB (Doubtful).
Ecuador: None.
Ivory Coast vs Ecuador weather
A warm and cloudy day is expected, with no rain forecast at any point during the match.
Ivory Coast vs Ecuador odds
| Ivory Coast | Ecuador | |
|---|---|---|
| +144 | Moneyline | +257 |
| +194 | Draw | +194 |
| Over 1.5 (-150) | Total | Under 1.5 (+144) |
Odds courtesy of Kalshi.
How to watch Ivory Coast vs Ecuador
Check out FIFA's official 2026 World Cup website for more information.
| Location | Lincoln Financial Field, Philadelphia, PA |
| Date | Sunday, June 14, 2026 |
| Time | 7:00 p.m. ET |
| TV | TV |
Odds are correct at the time of publishing and are subject to change.
Not intended for use in MA.
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