Curaçao vs. Ivory Coast Prediction, Picks, Lineups for World Cup 2026 Today

Curaçao vs. Ivory Coast kicks off today’s World Cup action at 4 p.m. ET on Thursday, June 25, in a match that will decide second place in Group E.

Both teams enter with a knockout spot still in reach on FS1 from Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia. 

Curaçao kept its World Cup knockout stage hopes alive with a shocking 0-0 draw vs. Ecuador behind Eloy Room’s record-breaking 15-save performance, but that came after a 7-1 loss to Germany.

Meanwhile, Ivory Coast squandered a 1-0 lead vs. Germany, losing 2-1 in the 94th minute, but they have pocketed three points with a 1-0 win vs. Ecuador. Still, a win here guarantees Ivory Coast qualification in the World Cup knockout stage for the first time in the nation's history.

Against a Curaçao side that has averaged just 26.1% possession and allowed 53 shots through two matches, Ivory Coast is nearly a 2.5-goal favorite on PrizePicks.

Below, we’ll break down our Curaçao vs. Ivory Coast prediction, including a spread pick, PrizePicks Team Picks payouts, lineups, and top player picks for Ivory Coast's Yan Diomande and Eloy Room.

Make your Curaçao vs. Ivory Coast predictions for the World Cup on PrizePicks

{{worldcup_sweeps_offer_banner="/style-system/ui-components-playbook"}}

World Cup 2026: Curaçao vs. Ivory Coast Prediction, Spread, Total Goals – World Cup 2026

How to watch Curaçao vs. Ivory Coast: FS1 (English), Universo (Spanish)

Kickoff Time: 4 p.m. ET

Venue: Lincoln Financial Field (Philadelphia, Pa.)

Group: Group E

Curaçao’s World Cup has been one of surprises; they first briefly leveled with Germany, 1-1, before conceding six-straight goals in a 7-1 loss. Then they bounced back with a gritty 0-0 draw vs. Ecuador behind a historic performance vs. Eloy Room, who tallied 15 saves — the most in a regulation time World Cup game in history.

The Ecuador result kept Curaçao alive, but it also showed exactly how thin the margins are for this team: they defended deep, absorbed pressure, and needed Room to make save after save to escape with a point.

Against a Curaçao side that has averaged just 26.1% possession through two matches, Ivory Coast should have their best chance yet to control the game after playing the two most difficult teams in the group.

Ivory Coast will be motivated to get 3 points here, as a win would guarantee qualification to the knockout stage for the first time in the nation's history.

Ultimately, facing 53 shots through two games is not sustainable for Curaçao. Ivory Coast can create similar pressure as previous opponents. Ivory Coast ranks 21st in the World Cup in xG (2.7), per Fotmob, and now they’ll get their chance to shine vs. an inferior opponent.

Curaçao vs. Ivory Coast: Favorite to Win, Spread, Total for World Cup Game Today

Here are the full Curaçao vs. Ivory Coast payouts on PrizePicks Team Picks — available in 35 states, including California, Texas, and Florida!

Winner Payout: Curaçao 11.11x | Tie 7.14 | Ivory Coast 1.14x

Spread: Ivory Coast -2.5 – 2.27x payout

Total Goals: 3.5 Goals – Over 2.43x | Under 1.51x

Both Teams to Score: Yes 2.38x | No 1.51x

Make your Curaçao vs. Ivory Coast prediction on the spread or winner on PrizePicks Team Picks

Payouts show potential returns on correct PrizePicks Team Picks predictions. For example, 2x payout returns $200 on a $100 entry. Lower multipliers reflect more likely outcomes. Payouts are live as of writing and subject to change.

Curaçao got their first-ever World Cup point vs. Ecuador, which may give them some momentum. They can qualify for the next knockout stage with a win.

Ivory Coast gave Germany a run for their money in their last World Cup match, going up a goal before Germany substitute Deniz Undav scored twice to get the win. Ivory Coast missed some crucial chances along the way, but proved they are a team to be reckoned with.

Curaçao is ranked 47th of 48 teams in our World Cup power rankings; while a tie vs. Ecuador kept them alive, they have just one goal and rank 46th in expected goals (xG) and 47th in xG conceded (7.1), per Fotmob. 

That sets up Ivory Coast as heavily favored to win, with a 2.5-goal spread, although Curaçao is the favorite to cover the spread.

{{worldcup_generic_offer_banner="/style-system/ui-components-playbook"}}

Curaçao vs. Ivory Coast Prediction on Spread for World Cup Game Today

Curaçao has been one of the best stories of the World Cup, but that’s all based on a single performance. Ranked 82nd in the latest FIFA rankings, and 47th in our expert’s updated World Cup rankings, getting a result vs. Ecuador was considered entirely improbable. 

Just getting that result —  a 0-0 draw — required a record-breaking 15-save performance from 37-year-old goalkeeper Eloy Room, who plays for second-tier United States club Miami FC.

It was an incredible effort, but let’s not forget the underlying metrics that make this Curaçao defense incredibly vulnerable.

Ecuador totaled 3.05 xG, 27 shots, 15 on target, and held 75% possession vs. Curaçao, per Opta. Through two World Cup matches, Curaçao has allowed 53 shots, 27 shots on target, and 7.1 xG.

They’ve averaged just 26.1% possession and spent long stretches in a low-block defense, including 45% vs. Ecuador and 37% vs. Germany. 

Curaçao has already shown that it can give up goals in bunches. Prior to Ecuador, they gave up 7 goals to Germany, in addition to 5 goals conceded to Australia and 4 goals to Scotland in friendlies.

For what it’s worth, Ivory Coast has been on the opposite side of impressive friendly results building to the World Cup: including an efficient 2-1 win over France and 4-0 win over South Korea.

Ivory Coast have quietly been dangerous against the two strongest teams in Group E, generating 3.15 xG through two matches, per FIFA — more than triple Curaçao’s 1.03 xG against the same opponents.

They’ve also been much better at moving the ball forward and challenging opposing defenses, completing 89 ball progressions compared to Curaçao’s 65 — including 50 vs. Germany.

Lock in your Curaçao vs. Ivory Coast World Cup prediction on PrizePicks now!

Curaçao vs. Ivory Coast Lineups for World Cup 2026 – Thursday, June 25

Here are the projected Curaçao vs. Ivory Coast lineups for today's World Cup Group E match. Lineups are not official and are based on historical data and consensus projections. 

Curaçao National Team Lineup vs. Ivory Coast Today

Projected Formation: 5-4-1

• Goalkeeper: Eloy Room
• Defense: Juriën Gaari, Armando Obispo, Sherel Floranus, Deveron Fonville, Joshua Brenet
• Midfield: Juninho Bacuna, Leandro Bacuna, Livano Comenencia, Tahith Chong
• Forward: Jürgen Locadia

Ivory Coast National Team Lineup vs. Curaçao Today

Ivory Coast RB Wilfried Singo is out vs. Curaçao after tearing his hamstring in the 82nd minute for Germany. That takes away some confidence in progression on the right side, but shouldn’t hamper them much in this matchup.

Projected Formation: 4-3-3

• Goalkeeper: Yahia Fofana
• Defense: Guéla Doué, Odilon Kossounou, Emmanuel Agbadou, Ghislain Konan
• Midfield: Franck Kessié, Ibrahim Sangaré, Christ Inao Oulaï
• Forwards: Amad Diallo, Ange-Yoan Bonny, Yan Diomande

Make World Cup Picks on PrizePicks and you could win WC Final Tickets! Enter now!

{{worldcup_sweeps_offer_banner="/style-system/ui-components-playbook"}}

Curaçao vs. Ivory Coast World Cup Picks Today – Thursday, June 25

Here are the top World Cup picks to target on PrizePicks today in the Curaçao vs. Ivory Coast game for Thursday, June 25. Today’s World Cup 2026 picks are headlined by Yan Diomande, Odilon Kossonou, and Eloy Room.

Ivory Coast LW Yan Diomande – 3 Crosses

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">6 - 🇨🇮 Yan Diomande has created six chances after a ball carry at the 2026 FIFA World Cup, the most of any player.<br><br>At the 2022 World Cup, the only players to match that total were 🇫🇷 Kylian Mbappé (8) and 🇦🇷 Lionel Messi (6).<br><br>Company. <a href="https://t.co/VPqTWjUUIn">pic.twitter.com/VPqTWjUUIn</a></p>&mdash; OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) <a href="https://x.com/OptaJoe/status/2069761661309702555?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 24, 2026</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.x.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

• Diomande is the engine on the wing for this Ivory Coast attack, often forcing double teams and creating chances as the ball progressor.
• Curaçao played in low block 45% vs. Ecuador and 37% vs. Germany; that defense will invite Diomande to make crosses.
• Ecuador attempted 33 crosses vs. Curaçao, while Germany attempted 20 — good for 26.5 opponents cross per match.
• Diomande has attempted 8 of Ivory Coast’s 22 open-play crosses in the World Cup — or 36.3% of the team’s total.
• Diomonde attempted a team-high 6 crosses vs. Ecuador and 2 vs. Germany. 
• Curaçao averaged just 26.1% possession in the World Cup, per FIFA; when Ivory Coast had 71% possession vs. Egypt in the AFCON quarterfinal, Diomande had 5 crosses (2 accurate).
• Diomonde is also projected for 6 dribbles on PrizePicks; he’s made 16 dribbles in his first two matches — the most of any player across the first two games. 

Combine Ivory Coast + Yan Diomande Picks on PrizePicks for bigger payouts!

Ivory Coast CB Odilon Kossonou – 63.5 Attempted Passes

• Kossonou attempted 51.6 passes per 90 minutes in 2025 AFCON across 359 minutes.
• In Ivory Coast’s win over Ecuador, no defender cleared 63.5 passes; Emmanuel Agbadou led with 56 passes attempted, per Fotmob.
• Curaçao’s low-block approach has let opposing starting CBs control the ball and build attack from the back.
• Opposing centerbacks vs. Curaçao have averaged 73.2 attempted passes per game.
• All four starting CBs vs. Curaçao have cleared Kossounou’s 63.5 passes attempted projection.

Combine Ivory Coast + Odilon Kossonou Picks on PrizePicks for bigger payouts!

Curaçao GK Eloy Room – 4.5 Saves

• 37-year-old Eloy Room had 15 saves vs. Ecuador — the second-most in a single game in World Cup history, posting a 100% save rate in a match where Ecuador generated 2.76 xG.
• Room has been one of the busiest goalkeepers in the World Cup, facing immense volume behind Curaçao’s low block, which invites danger.
• Curaçao allowed 27 shots (15 on target) vs. Ecuador and 26 shots (12 on target) vs. Germany. That’s 13.5 shots on target per match.
• Curaçao have allowed opponents to live in dangerous areas: Ecuador had 238 final-third receptions, while Germany had 252.
• Ivory Coast have averaged 12 shots per game in the World Cup vs. much more difficult opponents.
• Even in CONCACAF qualifying, Room was busy, averaging 3 saves per game, despite keeping 6 clean sheets across 10 games.

{{worldcup_generic_offer_banner="/style-system/ui-components-playbook"}}

Make Your Curaçao vs. Ivory Coast World Cup Prediction on PrizePicks

Curaçao’s story has been electric, and their draw vs. Ecuador proved they have a few surprises up their sleeve.

But Ivory Coast have already created chances against the two strongest teams in Group E, showing few weaknesses and plenty of chance creation.

Unless Curaçao’s tactics change with a knockout stage spot on the line, their low-block defense should give the Elephants a clear path to control possession, pile up chances, and make Room work again.

Don’t wait until Curaçao vs. Ivory Coast starts at 4 p.m. ET. Make your Curaçao vs. Ivory Coast picks on PrizePicks now and earn real money if you’re right on Thursday’s World Cup games.

Pick World Cup players, predict More or Less on their stats, and cash in if you’re right. With Team Picks, you can make predictions on World Cup match winners, spreads, over/unders, and futures, now available in 35 states.

Stay locked in on Playbook for daily World Cup 2026 predictions, picks, news, and analysis.