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.
