Nicolas Pépé does not need much of an invitation. When Curaçao’s defense gifted him one on June 25, 2026, the Ivory Coast forward made sure they regretted it.

Pépé, the right winger for Villarreal CF in La Liga, pounced on a defensive error to give Ivory Coast a 1-0 lead against Curaçao in their FIFA World Cup 2026 Group E match. The goal moved Ivory Coast toward a second-place finish in the group, putting them on the doorstep of the knockout rounds.

What happened and why it matters

Group E is not exactly a gentle neighborhood. Germany and Ecuador are both in the mix, which makes every point a serious commodity for Ivory Coast.

Pépé’s goal against Curaçao came at a moment when Ivory Coast needed a result. The team had already beaten Ecuador earlier in the group stage, meaning a win here would position them as genuine contenders to advance from a group that, on paper, looked like it belonged to Germany.

For context on why this match carries weight beyond a single goal: the 2026 World Cup expanded its format to accommodate 48 teams, up from the traditional 32. Ivory Coast, despite being a perennial African football powerhouse, has still never reached the knockout stages in their World Cup history. That is the number that follows them into every tournament. Four appearances, zero knockout-round appearances. The 2026 edition is their fourth shot at changing that record.

Pépé’s role in Ivory Coast’s attack

At 31, Nicolas Pépé carries more than 57 international caps for Ivory Coast. His club career has taken a winding road. Pépé was once one of the most expensive wingers in European football, signing for Arsenal from Lille for a fee that made headlines across the continent. He eventually moved on, landing at Villarreal in La Liga, where he has rebuilt his profile as a reliable, dangerous wide forward.

What this means for Ivory Coast’s World Cup trajectory

Ivory Coast finishing as the second-best team in Group E would be a notable achievement given the company they kept in that group. If Ivory Coast holds on for a win in this match, a second-place group finish would send them into the round of 32, which under the expanded 48-team format represents exactly the kind of knockout-stage entry that has eluded the Elephants across all their previous World Cup campaigns.