- Ivory Coast have won 7, drawn 1 and lost just 2 of their last 10 matches in all competitions.
- Ivory Coast have conceded just 1 goal in their last 3 home matches and just 0.33 goals per game at home across all competitions.
- Ecuador are unbeaten in their last 10 matches, winning 4 and drawing 6 (all draws came away).
A dynamic clash of styles at Philadelphia Stadium
Two of the most in-form sides in this group will face off on Sunday, as the Ivory Coast look to capitalize on Ecuador's tendency to draw their away games. Ivory Coast have won 4 of their last 5 internationals, including away wins against France, Republic of Korea and Scotland in their most recent friendly matches.
Emerse Faé has done a superb job with the Ivorians since his appointment in January 2024, establishing a team with a clear structure and identity that plays a high tempo, transition-focused style of football.
Simon Adingra provides a real spark of pace and directness on the wings and the team as a whole is capable of really hurting teams on the break. Franck Kessié is the maestro in midfield, setting the tempo and breaking up the play while Sebastian Haller provides the physical presence and clinical finishing touch at the sharp end.
Sebastián Beccacece has done a similarly good job with Ecuador since taking over in August 2024. He has developed a highly organised, disciplined and defensively compact side, while also managing to harness the energy and attacking quality of youngster Gonzalo Plata.
Plata has the ability to take the ball from midfield and play with it on the deck, but he has also been a constant threat with his pace on the counter attack. He has 3 assists in Ecuador's last 5 matches, but Ecuador really do look to him to get things going.
Ecuador have won each of their last 2, however, and will be looking to make it 3 in a row here. Moisés Caicedo gives them the same central midfield control as Kessié gives Ivory Coast, and he is a master at managing the ball and keeping the structure in place. Ecuador play a 4-4-2 or 4-2-3-1 structure, depending on the opposition, but always look to stay compact at the back and get forward on the quick break.
Ecuador's structure and defensive discipline will surely stifle Ivory Coast's pace and we could see a real chess match here at Philadelphia Stadium. Ecuador will get forward as well, however, and Enner Valencia is a very experienced striker who knows how to find the net.
Ecuador are undefeated in 6 away matches, but they have not been able to take 3 points from any of their 6 away draws, conceding 0.67 goals per match and scoring 0.67 per match away from home across all competitions. Ivory Coast have won their last 3, so the momentum is on their side.
We think this will be a really interesting battle between two quality, attacking teams and we expect both sides to score at 5/4. With Ivory Coast winning away and Ecuador struggling to win away, we're taking a draw at 179/100. Over 2.5 goals is 19/10.
