Group E · Matchday 3

CuraçaovsIvory Coast

2026-06-25·16:00 localPredictions finalised

Snapshot · 2026-07-14Model 1.0.0Final prediction · locked 25 Jun, 17:21 UTCCuraçao·Ivory Coast·Head-to-head →·
Full time · forecast gradedCuraçao 0 2 Ivory CoastThe locked pre-match forecast has been graded against this result.See the calibration recap →

The forecast

Match-outcome probability

  • Curaçao win
    14.5%
  • Draw
    25.1%
  • Ivory Coast win
    60.4%

A clash of identities: Curaçao's balanced approach meets Ivory Coast's possession-dominant style in a fixture the model gives to Ivory Coast at 75%.

Rank checkFIFA ranks Curaçao #82 in the world; the model ranks them #41 in this tournament field, 41 places higher than the FIFA list suggests. All 48 compared →
Likeliest score0–216.7%
First goal0-15'34.1%
Both teams score33.8%
Over 2.5 goals45.6%
Top scorerLocadia8.7%
Expected goals0.5 - 2.0
Loading pitch visualisation...

Why the model says this

Favoring Curaçao

  • ·Curaçao secured two victories and two draws in their last six fixtures, including a 7-0 win in World Cup qualification.
  • ·The ensemble model's probability for a home win (12.4%) is higher than some individual models, such as Elo (9.1%) and Stacking (4.3%), suggesting some underlying factors contribute to a slightly less pessimistic outlook.

Favoring Ivory Coast

  • ·Ivory Coast holds a significant Elo rating advantage, being favoured by 240 points over Curaçao.
  • ·Ivory Coast is ranked 42nd in FIFA, significantly higher than Curaçao's 82nd position.
  • ·The model's expected goals for Ivory Coast are 2.09, which is four times higher than Curaçao's 0.51.
  • ·Ivory Coast has won 4 of their last 6 matches, including two recent clean sheet victories (1-0, 4-0).

What the model can't fully price

  • ·Three players across both squads are carrying fitness doubts, with one projected starter among them. The model does not currently adjust for the impact of these potential absences.

Form check

Curaçao

Declining

Curaçao's recent form shows inconsistency, with two wins and two draws in their last six matches. However, their most recent outings in the FIFA Series resulted in consecutive losses, conceding 7 goals in two games (1-5, 0-2).

Conceded 7 goals in their last two matches.

Ivory Coast

Improving

Ivory Coast enters this match in strong form, having secured four wins and one draw in their last six fixtures. Their two most recent friendly matches both ended in victories with clean sheets (1-0, 4-0).

Won 4 of their last 6 matches.

Analysis

How it plays out

Ivory Coast will dominate the ball. Whether Curaçao can stay organised through long spells without it determines if Ivory Coast's possession converts to chances. Ivory Coast will expect to hold 58% possession. Curaçao need their shape to stay compact without the ball and be clinical when they win it back.

What decides it

Ivory Coast's possession game (58% avg) requires patience in the final third and quick ball recovery when they lose it. The scoring threat is evenly split: Jürgen Locadia (8.7%) and Franck Kessié (8.4%).

Off the pitch

Ivory Coast travel 7,736km, 2x Curaçao's journey. Second-half fatigue is a real factor at that differential.

The angle

The model gives Curaçao just 12.4% to win. Every World Cup produces group-stage upsets; the question is whether this fixture is one of them.

Goals & scorelines

Likeliest score 0–2 (16.7%) · xG 0.5 - 2.0

Expected goals

Curaçao
0.48
Ivory Coast
2.02

Mean of the Dixon-Coles joint goal distribution. Same fit that produces the most-likely-scoreline list below.

Most likely scorelines

  • 0–2
    16.7%
  • 0–1
    16.1%
  • 0–3
    11.2%
  • 0–0
    8.7%
  • 1–1
    8.5%

From the Dixon-Coles joint Poisson with the low-score correction. Scorelines are listed in probability order; this is a description of the model's distribution, not a recommendation.

Most likely half-time scorelines

  • 0–0
    29.1%
  • 0–1
    28.4%
  • 0–2
    14.5%
  • 1–1
    7.4%
  • 1–0
    6.5%

Same Dixon-Coles fit as the full-time list above, with rates halved to a 45-minute window and the low-score correction applied to that 1st-half block. The 0-0 row sits higher here than at full-time because fewer minutes have elapsed.

Goal totals

  • More than 0.5 goals
    91.3%
  • More than 1.5 goals
    71.7%
  • More than 2.5 goals
    45.6%
  • More than 3.5 goals
    24.2%
  • More than 4.5 goals
    10.9%
  • More than 5.5 goals
    4.2%
  • Both teams score
    33.8%

Each row is the probability the match finishes with more than the listed number of goals. Both-teams-to-score is the probability each side scores at least once. All values are marginals of the Dixon-Coles joint goal grid that produces the scoreline list above — not market lines or any other operator construct.

Event-typed probabilities

  • Curaçao clean sheetOpposing team scores zero13.3%
  • Ivory Coast clean sheetOpposing team scores zero61.6%

Derived from the same Dixon-Coles joint distribution as the scoreline list. These are descriptive event probabilities — see CLAUDE.md §3/§4 (formerly COMPLIANCE.md §4.2.7) for the framing the project uses.

Win-margin probability

  • Curaçao by 4+
    <0.1%
  • Curaçao by 3+
    0.2%
  • Curaçao by 2+
    1.5%
  • Curaçao by 1+
    7.3%
  • Draw
    19.4%
  • Ivory Coast by 1+
    73.3%
  • Ivory Coast by 2+
    47.7%
  • Ivory Coast by 3+
    24.9%
  • Ivory Coast by 4+
    10.7%

Each row is the probability the match ends with the listed margin or larger in that direction. Marginal of the Dixon-Coles joint goal grid; the “by 1+” rows plus the draw row sum to 1.

How the match unfolds

Over 2.5 goals 45.6% · BTTS 33.8%

Game state through the match

0%25%50%75%100%0'15'30'45'60'75'90'
  • Curaçao ahead7.8%
  • Level18.4%
  • Ivory Coast ahead73.8%

Probability of each game state at minutes 0, 15, 30, 45, 60, 75, 90 — derived from two independent thinned-Poisson processes with the Dixon-Coles per-team rates. The three lines always sum to 1 at each minute. The right column shows the state at the match's closing minute.

When the first goal arrives

  • 0–15
    34.1%
  • 15–30
    22.5%
  • 30–45
    14.8%
  • 45–60
    9.8%
  • 60–75
    6.4%
  • 75–90
    4.2%
  • No goal
    8.2%

Probability the match's first goal arrives in each 15-minute window. Homogeneous Poisson with combined rate λ = λh + λa from the Dixon-Coles fit; the seven rows (six windows + no-goal tail) sum to 1.

Half-time / full-time grid

Joint probability of half-time and full-time results
HT ↓ / FT →HCuraçao winDDrawAIvory Coast win
HCuraçao ahead4.1%2.5%1.7%
DLevel3.3%13.3%20.4%
AIvory Coast ahead0.3%2.7%51.7%

Each cell is P(half-time result, full-time result). All nine cells sum to 1. Derived from a halved-λ Dixon-Coles fit for the first half plus an independent-Poisson second-half convolution.

Comeback probability

  • Curaçao trail at HT, avoid defeat at FT
    3.0%
  • Ivory Coast trail at HT, avoid defeat at FT
    4.3%

Joint probability — P(side trailing at half-time AND avoiding defeat at full-time). NOT conditional on trailing at HT. Derived from the same half-time / full-time decomposition that produces the HT/FT grid above; a tied first half is neither a home nor an away comeback opportunity.

Cards

  • Expected yellow cardsMean of the Poisson on total yellow cards.3.45
  • Total yellows over 2.567.0%
  • Total yellows over 3.545.3%
  • Total yellows over 4.526.5%
  • Any red cardP(at least one red card in the match).9.5%

Referee not yet assigned. Using the 2026 pool-mean per-match rate as a placeholder; the model picks up the referee's personal rate once the assignment is published. Total yellow cards modelled as a Poisson with mean equal to two team baselines plus the referee's deviation from the pool mean. Reds are modelled the same way, independently. See /docs/methodology/.

Teams & players

Top scorer: Locadia (8.7%)

Match detail

Curaçao

Model-rated key players: Jürgen Locadia (FW) — P(scores) 8.7%; Brandley Kuwas (FW) — P(scores) 3.5%; Jearl Margaritha (FW) — P(scores) 3.5%.

How they play

Limited recent tournament data is available for Curaçao's tactical profile. Early indicators suggest a balanced approach.

What they must execute

Curaçao will need to leverage their strengths while managing the physical demands of a tournament spread across three host countries. With Fred Rutten appointed relatively recently (161 days before kickoff), building tactical cohesion in limited preparation time is the immediate challenge.

Storylines
Model bold: Model rates them #48 by tournament-winner probability — 34 places higher than FIFA #82.
Form trend: Gained 88 international Elo points over the last 12 months — current rating 1614.
Local-league core: Only 1 of 24 predicted-squad players played in a top-5 European league last season — the rest play home or in non-top-5 leagues.

Ivory Coast

Model-rated key players: Franck Kessié (MF) — P(scores) 8.4%; Simon Adingra (FW) — P(scores) 2.8%; Jérémie Boga (FW) — P(scores) 2.6%.

How they play

Ivory Coast under Emerse Faé play a possession dominant game, holding 58% of the ball — among the highest in the tournament field. They press intensely (PPDA 13.7, 2nd in the field).

What they must execute

To succeed, Ivory Coast must control tempo and territory in midfield — their possession-dominant approach depends on dictating the rhythm of each match.

Storylines
Form trend: Gained 87 international Elo points over the last 12 months — current rating 1795.
Teen starter: Yan Diomande19 at kickoff — 9 caps — projected on the bench, the squad's youngest pick.
Touchline: Emerse FaéFirst World Cup as head coach, appointed 2024.
Workload going in

Ivory Coast's predicted XI averages 1,658 club minutes over the 2024-25 season (light load).

Curaçao coverage: 25.0% (3/11 XI matched against the FBref Big-5) · Ivory Coast: 60.0% (7/11).

Set-piece outlook

Ivory Coast converts 16.5% from set-pieces (0.33 expected). Combined, the model expects 0.33 set-piece goals across the 90 minutes.

  • P(Ivory Coast scores set-piece goal) 28.3%
  • P(set-piece goal in match) 28.3%

Curaçao: Juninho Bacuna on corners (16 corners) (per fbref 2018 19) · Ivory Coast: Nicolas Pépé on corners (13 corners), Ibrahim Sangaré on free kicks (per fbref 2022 23)

Penalty outlook

If a penalty is awarded to Curaçao, the model gives 75.0% conversion, 73.3% for Ivory Coast.

Curaçao primary PK: Jürgen Locadia (1/1 in 2021-22, per fbref 2018 19) · Ivory Coast primary PK: Franck Kessié (2/3 in 2021-22, per fbref 2022 23).

Derived from the model's per-fixture forecast joint and supporting reference data (predicted squads, set-piece xG share, PK posteriors, club minutes). See /docs/methodology/ for the full methodology.

Tactical forecast

Curaçaobalanced

Partial coverage from FotMob match stats (recent qualifiers and friendlies): possession and shot volume only. Press and build-up metrics are not available for this side.

PPDA
Possession
51%
Directness (yds/pass)
Long balls/90
Set-piece xG
Ivory Coastpossession-dominant
PPDA
13.7
Possession
58%
Directness (yds/pass)
6.4
Long balls/90
34
Set-piece xG
17%

Style profile per side from StatsBomb open-data aggregation across recent international tournaments (Euro 2020/2024, Copa America 2024, AFCON 2023, World Cup 2018/2022). The tactical-fingerprint badge maps each team’s observed style vector into one of eight canonical archetypes via a rule-based classifier; teams with fewer than three matches of qualifying coverage carry an “insufficient-data” label rather than being forced into a default. Sides outside the StatsBomb-open corpus use FotMob team match stats from recent qualifiers and friendlies instead (possession and shot volume only), marked as partial coverage. PPDA = passes the side allows per defensive action (lower = more intense press). Formation distributions are not yet produced — that head of the §2.7 classifier is pending its own data pull. See /docs/methodology/.

Squad depth

Most irreplaceable starters

Curaçao

  1. Godfried RoemeratoeDefensive midfieldCover: Kevin Felida · 0.050.14gap
  2. Eloy RoomGoalkeeperCover: Trevor Doornbusch · 0.060.12gap

Ivory Coast

  1. Oumar DiakitéStrikerCover: Elye Wahi · 0.000.67gap
  2. Ibrahim SangaréDefensive midfieldNo natural backup0.30gap
  3. Ousmane DiomandeCentre-backCover: Emmanuel Agbadou · 0.730.23gap

Gap = how far a side's rating at the position falls from the starter to his likely in-squad replacement (named under each name). Larger = harder to replace. Descriptive metric, does not feed the published probabilities. Methodology →

Match conditions

  • AltitudeNear sea level10 m
  • Avg temperatureFive-year mean over the tournament window24.8 °C
  • Avg humidity70%
  • Heat stressShade WBGT ~26.5 °CLow heat stress
  • Pitch surfacenatural grass

Natural-grass NFL stadium; FIFA-standard hybrid pitch for the tournament.

Heat stress is a shade Wet-Bulb Globe Temperature proxy from the venue's climatology mean temperature and humidity; FIFA mandates cooling breaks at WBGT 32 °C. Afternoon kickoff (local time). These are long-window averages, not a match-day forecast, and they are not inputs to the forecast.

Top scorers · P(scores in this match)

Ivory Coast

Per-player scoring rate from Model #5 (`p_score_per_match`). Reflects each player's npxG/90, expected minutes, team xG share, and the average opposing-team defence. See /docs/methodology/.

Recent match form

Last match player ratings

Curaçao

vs Ecuador · avg

Ivory Coast

vs Norway · avg 7.5

8
Amad DialloRW
ATK
DEF
PAS
7
Yahia FofanaGK
ATK
DEF
PAS

Player scores from official highlight analysis of each team's most recent match. Observational, not a model input. Methodology →

Video analysis: player performance

Per-player ratings and event breakdowns from official highlights analysis. Tap a player to see their full match timeline.

Curaçao
6
Leandro Bacuna

Contributed to the attack with a shot on goal, but had limited overall decisive impact.

1shots

Match timeline

5
Tahith Chong

Showed attacking intent with multiple shots but was unable to convert his opportunities.

2shots

Match timeline

Ivory Coast
9
Nicolas Pepe

Scored both goals for Ivory Coast, demonstrating clinical finishing and a strong attacking presence.

8
Yahia Fofana1'–1'

Made crucial saves to maintain a clean sheet and secure the win for Ivory Coast.

4saves

Match timeline

1'Ivory Coast goalkeeper Fofana makes a save from an Ecuador shot
8
Amad Diallo1'–1'

Scored a crucial goal shortly after coming on as a substitute, proving to be the match-winner.

2goals

Match timeline

1'Amad Diallo (CIV #15) scores for Ivory Coast
7
Konan

Demonstrated excellent dribbling to create a notable attacking opportunity for Curaçao.

Match timeline

7
Plata

Was a constant attacking threat, hitting the woodwork and testing the opposition goalkeeper.

Match observations

  • Ivory Coast secured a comfortable 2-0 victory over Curacao in a match played in Philadelphia.
  • Curacao created several opportunities but struggled with their finishing, failing to trouble the scoreline.
  • The atmosphere was vibrant, with both sets of supporters cheering on their teams.

Under the hood

Model-by-model comparison

Curaçao vs Ivory Coast

Consensus (3.0%)
ModelWeightHomeDrawAway
EloRating-based strength estimate32%
7.7%
22.0%
70.3%
Dixon-ColesGoal-process model with low-score correction63%
7.3%
19.4%
73.3%
Hierarchical PoissonBayesian model with confederation pooling6%
8.8%
20.0%
71.2%
Bayesian stackingLearned-weight combination
2.3%
16.5%
81.2%
Ensemble (published)Uniform average + isotonic calibration
3.8%
20.8%
75.4%
Home spread: 1.5%
Draw spread: 2.6%
Away spread: 3.0%
How each model works
Elo
Each team carries a single strength rating updated after every match by a margin-aware K-factor. Match probabilities come from the logistic function of the rating gap. Elo is fast-adapting but coarse — it sees only who won and by how much, not how the goals were scored.
Dixon-Coles
A Poisson regression on team-level attack and defence parameters, fitted via maximum likelihood with an exponential time-decay weighting. The Dixon-Coles correction adjusts the four low-score cells (0-0, 1-0, 0-1, 1-1) where independent Poisson underestimates dependence. Produces full scoreline distributions, not just H/D/A.
Hierarchical Poisson
A Bayesian Poisson model fitted via MCMC (PyMC) with hierarchical priors that pool attack and defence parameters within confederations. Shrinks small-sample teams toward their confederation mean — helpful for nations with few recent competitive fixtures. Slower to fit but better-calibrated on the tails.
Bayesian stacking
Optimises simplex weights (w_elo, w_dc, w_hp) to maximise the leave-one-out log-score across a walk-forward backtest (Yao et al. 2018). The result is a weighted average of the three component models' probabilities, then isotonic-calibrated. Adds no extra features — just learns which component to trust more from historical accuracy.
Ensemble (published)
Equal-weight average of all three component models, followed by per-class isotonic regression calibration fitted on 24 months of walk-forward out-of-fold predictions. This is the probability published on the site. The uniform mean is deliberately simple — it avoids overfitting to the stacking weights' training window.

Three independent component models feed two combination strategies. The uniform ensemble is the published probability; Bayesian stacking uses learned weights. Amber bars flag >5pp divergence from the published number. Full methodology

Probability decomposition (transparency surface)

  • Baseline ensemble — P(Curaçao win)12.4%
  • + Lineup contribution0.0pp
  • + Style-matchup contribution0.0pp
  • Published P(Curaçao win)12.4%
Curaçao
12.4%
Draw
24.3%
Ivory Coast
63.3%

Decomposition of the published P(Curaçao win) into the calibrated- baseline plus contributions from the §2.3 expected-XI lineup delta and the §2.7 style-matchup interaction. The §2.7 roadmap is explicit that style effects are second-order to team strength — single-digit-percentage P(win) shifts on extreme style matchups, near-zero on balanced ones. We surface the decomposition for transparency even when the contributions are small; the baseline carries the prediction. Methodology: /docs/methodology.

For this fixture both contributions round to under 0.05pp — the fitted style-matchup pair effect is in the small-magnitude regime the model expects to dominate.

Latest news & match context

Team news

No recent headlines for Curaçao or Ivory Coast.

Match conditions
Stage:
Group E · Matchday 3
Date:
25 Jun
Availability

Curaçao

Curaçao come in at close to full strength.

Ivory Coast

Ivory Coast come in at close to full strength.

What it means

Curaçao and Ivory Coast both come in at close to full strength, so the forecast rests on baseline team strength rather than late team-news swings.

Availability from the predicted squads and injury feed; forecast adjustments from the model's own decomposition. See /docs/methodology/.

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