Côte d’Ivoire Deserved a 2026 World Cup Round of 32 Spot, Says Faé

Côte d’Ivoire head coach Emerse Faé believes his team earned a spot in the knockout stages of the FIFA World Cup 2026, Completesports.com reports.

The Elephants secured a place in the Round of 32 after a 2-0 win over Curaçao at Philadelphia Stadium on Thursday night.

Pepe Stars For Elephants

Former Arsenal winger Nicolas Pepe netted both goals for the former African champions.

Pepe opened the scoring in the sixth minute, curling in from close range after Yan Diomande delivered a low cut‑back into the penalty area.

The goal was Côte d’Ivoire’s fastest ever at the World Cup.

In the second half, Pepe doubled the lead, calmly slotting home with his left foot after a tidy one‑two with Nottingham Forest midfielder Ibrahim Sangare left him free in the box against Eloy Room.

Faé Thumbs Côte d’Ivoire’s Victory

Faé praised his team’s achievement and expressed pride in their performance.

“Pride is the first word that comes to mind. We knew we could do it, and we also knew it was going to be difficult. We did it. On top of that, we finished second,” Faé was quoted by FIFA.com.

“We’re happy and proud, but we’re looking even further ahead. We’re going to rest up well for our next match. Ivory Coast deserves this, can enjoy it, and can celebrate tonight. They can keep cheering us on so we can go as far as possible.”

Côte d’Ivoire qualify as Group E runners-up and will face the runners-up from Group I in Dallas on 30 June.