Curaçao vs Ivory Coast

Ivory Coast dominated this World Cup group-stage clash to secure a convincing 2-0 victory over Curaçao. Pépé got the ball rolling early, firing home in the 7th minute after a setup from Diomande, then sealed the result with a second goal in the 64th minute, this time assisted by Sangaré. It was a controlled performance from the Ivorians that underlined the quality gap between the two sides.

Our model predicted a 0-2 scoreline heading into kickoff, giving Ivory Coast a 78% chance to win. That outcome landed spot on — both the result direction and the exact scoreline. Before the match, the form lines suggested Ivory Coast were the clear favourites, with Curaçao struggling against quality opposition and the Ivorians coming in with recent momentum. The match unfolded in line with those expectations, with Ivory Coast's attacking intent and defensive solidity proving too much for their opponents.

Getting the score exactly right on a World Cup fixture is rare, and it's worth noting that a 78% lean is a strong call but still leaves room for the other outcomes that didn't materialise. In this case, Ivory Coast's quality simply showed on the day, and our prediction was borne out by what we saw on the pitch.