The German team secured their place in the knockout stage of the World Cup by beating Ivory Coast 2-1. The clash, held in Toronto, this Saturday (20), was marked by emotion until the final minutes.
With the positive result, the team led by Julian Nagelsmann became the third to qualify for the next stage of the tournament. Before that, Mexico and the United States had already secured classification after the results of the second round of the competition.
The big name of the match was Deniz Undav, who came off the bench in the second half to find the net twice. Meanwhile, Kessié had scored the only goal for the Ivorian team in the first half.
Updated World Cup Group E situation
With the victory, the German team reached the six-point mark in Group E. Ivory Coast, in turn, remained with three points. Later on the same day, Ecuador and Curaçao, who have not yet scored in the tournament, will take the field in Kansas City, in the United States.
Germany will end its participation in the group stage by facing Ecuador on Thursday (25), at 5 pm (Brasília time). On the same day and time, Ivory Coast will face the Curaçao team.
- 1st – Germany: 6 points (+7 balance)
- 2nd – Ivory Coast: 3 points (0 balance)
- 3rd – Ecuador: 0 points (balance -1)
- 4th – Curaçao: 0 points (balance -6)
Deniz Undav’s decisive performance in Germany’s triumph
Striker Deniz Undav emerged as the Germans’ hero this Saturday (20). The number 26, who plays for Stuttgart, entered the field in the second half and was essential for the team to achieve the comeback.
His goals came from opportunistic moves inside the box. In the first, he received the ball in favorable conditions in the middle of the marking and finished with precision.
The winning goal, scored in the 48th minute of the second half, was the result of a beautiful control and turn by Undav, who beat goalkeeper Y. Fofana, guaranteeing Germany’s qualification for the 1/16 phase of the World Cup.
Crucial moments of the match between Germany and Ivory Coast
Ivory Coast opened the scoring in the 29th minute. Diomande dribbled past Kimmich on the left, advanced and crossed low into the area. The ball reached Diallo, who hit the goal, but was blocked by Brown. On the rebound, Kessié took advantage of goalkeeper Neuer’s position and sent it into the net.
Shortly afterwards, there was a scare for the Ivorian defense when Kossounou lost possession of the ball near the area and was stopped due to a foul by Musiala. The play continued and Wirtz passed it to Havertz, who scored in the 38th minute, but the goal was disallowed by referee Juan Gabriel Benitez.
The German equalizer came 22 minutes into the second half. Amiri crossed from the right, and Undav appeared free in the center of the opponent’s area. The number 26 shot with his left foot, and Fofana was unable to prevent the goal from the small area.
Germany’s comeback was sealed at the end of the match. Undav received a pass from Nmecha inside the area, controlled it and spun, finishing quickly. The striker, with his left leg, scored again, ensuring the German victory in the 48th minute of the second half.
Details of the clash’s technical sheet
- Score: Germany 2 x 1 Ivory Coast
- Date and time: June 20, 2026, at 5pm (Brasília time)
- Competition: World Cup – 2nd round – Group E
- Location: BMO Field, Toronto (CAN)
- Arbitrator: Juan Gabriel Benitez (PAR)
- Assistants: Eduardo Cardozo and Milciades Saldivar (PAR)
- VAR: Antonio Garcia (URU)
- Goals: Kessié (29’/1st Q) (COS); Undav (22′ and 48’/2nd Q) (ALE)
- Germany lineup: Neuer; Kimmich, Tah, Schlotterbeck (Rudiger) and Brown; Nmecha, Pavlovic (Amiri), Sané (Leweling), Musiala (Undav) and Wirtz; Havertz (Goretzka). Coach: Julian Nagelsmann
- Ivory Coast Lineup: Y. Fofana; Singo (G. Doué), Kossounou, Agbadou and Konan; Diallo (Adingra), Kessié, Sangaré (S. Fofana) and Diomande (Pepe); Bonny (Guessand) and Inao Oulai. Coach: Emerse Fae
