FIFA WC 2026: Côte d'Ivoire 2-0 Curaçao; Ecuador 2-1 Germany; Japan 1-1 Sweden; Netherlands 3-1 Tunisia

Across Thursday’s fixtures, Côte d’Ivoire beat Curaçao 2-0 to reach the World Cup knockout stage for the first time, Ecuador came from behind to down Germany 2-1 and qualify as one of the best third-placed teams, Japan held Sweden to a 1-1 draw to finish second in Group F, and the Netherlands topped Group F with a 3-1 win over Tunisia.

Nicolas Pepe’s early strike and second-half curling finish gave Côte d’Ivoire a 2-0 win over Curaçao in Philadelphia, sending the Elephants into the World Cup knockout stages for the first time. Pepe opened the scoring in the seventh minute after Yan Diomande’s turnover and sealed the victory in the 64th from an Ibrahim Sangare pass; Côte d’Ivoire finish second in Group E and will face either Norway or France in the round of 32.

Ecuador came from behind to beat Germany 2-1 in New Jersey and clinch a place among the best third-placed teams. Leroy Sané put Germany ahead inside two minutes, Nilson Angulo equalised for Ecuador in the first half, and Gonzalo Plata nodded home a late winner after a frantic sequence involving Manuel Neuer; Germany nevertheless top the group on goal difference.

A hard-fought 1-1 draw between Japan and Sweden in Arlington saw Daizen Maeda’s second-half finish cancelled out within minutes by Anthony Elanga’s long-range strike. The result secures Japan second place in Group F and a last-32 meeting with Brazil in Houston on June 30; Sweden progress as one of the best third-placed teams.

The Netherlands beat already-eliminated Tunisia 3-1 in Kansas City to claim top spot in Group F, racing into a 2-0 lead inside seven minutes via an early own goal and a Brian Brobbey strike, with Jan Paul van Hecke adding a third after Tunisia pulled one back through Hazem Mastouri; Oranje will meet Morocco in the round of 32.

(Inputs from IANS)