Curacao’s inaugural World Cup appearance ended with a 2-0 defeat to Ivory Coast on Thursday. Both goals were scored by Pepé, securing victory for the African nation. This result eliminates Curacao from contention and confirms Ivory Coast’s advancement to the next stage of the tournament. It marks the first time Ivory Coast has progressed beyond the group stage in World Cup history. The match represented the first-ever competitive encounter between the two nations. Ivory Coast’s win solidifies their position in the tournament, while Curacao returns home after gaining valuable experience.