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Match Preview
- The final Group E match sees Curaçao, the smallest nation ever to qualify for the World Cup with a population of just 170,000, face African champions Ivory Coast (2023 Africa Cup of Nations winners). The Caribbean island nation makes history in their final group stage appearance against the Pot 3 powerhouse.
- The Bakuna brothers unite in midfield for Curaçao in this special occasion. Captain Leandro Bakuna (34 years old, 72 caps with 16 goals, Premier League experience with Aston Villa and Cardiff) partners with his younger brother Juninho (28 years old, 49 caps with 15 goals, played for Rangers and Huddersfield) as they carry their nation's pride in this historic World Cup debut.
- Ivory Coast's midfield features the formidable partnership of Franck Kessié (29 years old, 103 caps with 15 goals, Serie A champion with AC Milan, LaLiga winner with Barcelona) and Ibrahim Sangaré (191cm tall, 58 caps with 12 goals, Nottingham Forest). Sangaré, who made 107 appearances for PSV, faces a reunion with Curaçao's Obispo (PSV player) and Brenet (PSV academy product).
- Manchester United connections emerge on both sides. Curaçao fields Tahith Chong (26 years old, 6 caps with 3 goals), who featured in FA Cup matches for United, and Kenji Gorré (31 years old, 38 caps with 6 goals) from United's academy. Ivory Coast counters with Amad Diallo (23 years old, 19 caps with 6 goals), currently a key player at Old Trafford.
- Curaçao sets up in a 5-3-2 formation with veteran goalkeeper Eloy Room (37 years old, 71 caps, KNVB Cup winner with Vitesse, MLS Cup 2020 champion with Columbus Crew) anchoring the defense. Center-backs Obispo (27, PSV player who switched from Netherlands U21) and experienced Julien Gaari (32, around 60 caps) form the defensive core, while Ivory Coast's 4-4-2 features Bony (22, Inter Milan) and Pépé (31, 54 caps with 12 goals, former Arsenal) leading the attack.
- Ivory Coast's frontline combines experience with youth. Veteran Nicolas Pépé (31 years old, scored 22 goals with 11 assists at Lille before Arsenal move, now at Villarreal) partners with Ange-Yoan Bonny (22 years old, switched from France, joined Inter from Parma in summer 2025) to break down Curaçao's five-man defensive wall.
- Young talents promise excitement on both flanks. Ivory Coast's Yann Gboho (19 years old, RB Leipzig, 10 caps with 3 goals) brings explosive pace to torment the wings. For Curaçao, Livano Comencia (22 years old, FC Zürich, 20 caps with 2 goals), a Juventus Next Gen graduate, battles hard in midfield as one of the rising stars.