FIFA WC: When and where to watch Curacao vs Ivory Coast, know all details
Philadelphia, June 25
The battle for second place in Group E comes down to 90 minutes in Philadelphia as Curacao and Ivory Coast meet in a winner-takes-all contest on Friday. While Germany have already booked their place in the Round of 32, the race for the remaining qualification spot remains wide open, giving this fixture enormous significance for both nations.
Ivory Coast enter the match in the stronger position. The African side sit second in the standings with three points and need only a draw to progress to the knockout rounds. After edging Ecuador through a dramatic late winner in their opener, the Elephants showed promise against Germany before ultimately falling short. Despite that defeat, their fate remains firmly in their own hands.
For Curacao, the equation is more complicated but still encouraging. The Caribbean nation, appearing on the World Cup stage for the first time, recovered impressively from a difficult start to the tournament. Following a heavy defeat to Germany, they produced one of the most resilient displays of the competition in a scoreless draw against Ecuador. That result was built around an extraordinary performance from goalkeeper Eloy Room, whose string of saves preserved a vital point and kept qualification hopes alive.
Veteran coach Dick Advocaat is expected to continue with a defence-first approach, aiming to frustrate Ivory Coast and create opportunities on the counterattack. The availability of striker Jurgen Locadia remains uncertain after a recent injury concern. Ivory Coast coach Emerse Fae, meanwhile, will look to his attacking talents to deliver under pressure. Young forward Yan Diomande has emerged as a key creative outlet and could prove decisive in unlocking Curaçao's disciplined defensive structure.
How to watch Curacao vs Ivory Coast live in India
Live streaming and live telecast of the FIFA World Cup 2026 football matches will be available on the Zee5 platform and app in India. A subscription will be needed.
Live telecast of the FIFA World Cup 2026 will be available on the Unite8 Sports 1, Unite8 Sports 1 HD, Unite8 Sports 2, and Unite8 Sports 2 HD TV channels in India.
Key details
Date and kick-off time: Friday, June 26, 01:30 AM (IST)
Venue: Philadelphia Stadium, Pennsylvania, USA
Referee: Glenn Nyberg
Squads:
Curacao -
Goalkeepers: Tyrick Bodak, Trevor Doornbusch, Eloy Room
Defenders: Riechedly Bazoer, Joshua Brenet, Roshon Van Eijma, Sherel Floranus, Deveron Fonville, Juriën Gaari, Armando Obispo, Shurandy Sambo
Midfielders: Juninho Bacuna, Leandro Bacuna, Livano Comenencia, Kevin Felida, Ar'Jany Martha, Tyrese Noslin, Godfried Roemeratoe
Forwards: Jeremy Antonisse, Tahith Chong, Kenji Gorré, Sontje Hansen, Gervane Kastaneer, Brandley Kuwas, Jurgen Locadia, Jearl Margaritha
Ivory Coast -
Goalkeepers: Yahia Fofana, Mohamed Kone, Alban Lafont
Defenders: Emmanuel Agbadou, Christopher Operi, Ousmane Diomande, Guela Doue, Ghislain Konan, Odilon Kossounou, Wilfried Singo, Evan Ndicka
Midfielders: Seko Fofana, Parfait Guiagon, Christ Inao Oulai, Franck Kessie, Ibrahim Sangare, Jean Michael Seri
Forwards: Simon Adingra, Ange-Yoan Bonny, Amad Diallo, Oumar Diakite, Yan Diomande, Evann Guessand, Nicolas Pepe, Bazoumana Touré, Elye Wahi
— IANS
Reader Comments
Ivory Coast has good attacking talent like Diomande and Pepe. They should win comfortably, but Curacao has shown they can defend well. The timing at 1:30 AM IST is tough for Indian fans though! 🕐
Good coverage of the World Cup. I appreciate the detailed squad lists and broadcast info for India. The Zee5 streaming option makes it accessible for cricket-loving nation to enjoy some football too.
Honestly, I'm surprised by Curacao's performance so far. A small Caribbean nation making their World Cup debut and competing like this is inspiring. Dick Advocaat's experience is proving valuable. Reminds me of how we Indians support our underdog teams in cricket!
Good tactical analysis but could have mentioned more about Ivory Coast's midfield battle with Kessie and Sangare. Their experience could overwhelm Curacao's defense. Still, it's a winner-takes-all scenario that promises drama!
We welcome thoughtful discussions from our readers. Please keep comments respectful and on-topic.