World Cup 2026: Gianni Infantino hails Cote d’Ivoire’s historic knockout qualification after win over Curaçao

FIFA president Gianni Infantino has hailed Cote d’Ivoire’s historic qualification for the knockout stage of the 2026 FIFA World Cup after the Elephants defeated Curaçao 2-0 in their final Group E match in Philadelphia.

The victory secured the Ivorians a place in the Round of 32 for the first time in the nation’s history, marking a major milestone for one of Africa’s football powerhouses.

Taking to Instagram after the match, Infantino congratulated Emerse Faé’s side on achieving the historic feat while praising the vibrant atmosphere created by supporters at the stadium.

“What a great game in Philadelphia, played in front of the most incredible fans who provided a fantastic atmosphere!” Infantino wrote.

He added: “Congratulations to Côte d’Ivoire on your first-ever knockout qualification – this result will be celebrated all over your beautiful country.”

The FIFA chief also reserved special praise for Curaçao, whose impressive debut World Cup campaign came to an end despite failing to progress beyond the group stage.

“To Curaçao, you have made all of us and your fans very proud – well played,” Infantino said.

He commended the commitment shown by supporters of both nations, noting that many Ivorian fans overcame travel restrictions to attend the game, while highlighting the remarkable backing from Curaçao, a country with a population of just 155,000.

Infantino revealed that 68,324 spectators packed the stadium in Philadelphia for the midweek fixture, describing the occasion as another example of football’s ability to unite fans from across the globe.

“It was fantastic to witness a sell-out midweek crowd at this group stage game, not only from the fans of Cote d’Ivoire and Curaçao, but across the entire football community,” he said before thanking the supporters and the host city.

In a separate Instagram post, Infantino described Cote d’Ivoire’s qualification as “a dream come true,” while reiterating that Curaçao had inspired many during its maiden FIFA World Cup appearance.

Cote d’Ivoire’s 2-0 triumph over Curaçao capped an impressive Group E campaign after earlier defeating Ecuador 1-0 and narrowly losing 2-1 to Germany.

The three-time Africa Cup of Nations champions now advance to the knockout rounds with renewed confidence as they seek to extend their memorable run at the expanded 48-team FIFA World Cup.

Infantino’s glowing tribute underlines the significance of Côte d’Ivoire’s achievement, with the Elephants becoming one of Africa’s standout success stories at the tournament and carrying the continent’s hopes into the knockout phase.