Undav injury-time goal sees Germany beat Ivory Coast to top World Cup group | World Cup 2026 News
Germany Overcomes Ivory Coast 2-1 to Secure Knockout Stage in World Cup 2026
Published June 20, 2026
Germany staged a dramatic comeback to defeat the Ivory Coast 2-1 in a Group E match at the FIFA World Cup, securing their advancement to the knockout stage for the first time since their championship victory in 2014.
Deniz Undav, who came off the bench, played a pivotal role by scoring both goals for Germany. The match, held Saturday, saw Ivory Coast take an early lead with a goal from Franck Kessie, who capitalized on a rebound from Amad Diallo’s shot, assisted by Yan Diomande’s cross from the left flank.
Despite having two goals disallowed in the first half, Germany maintained their composure and demonstrated skilled passing throughout the match.
Undav equalized in the 68th minute with a disciplined volley and later scored again following a well-placed turn and shot, leaving Ivory Coast goalkeeper Yahia Fofana with no chance to respond. Undav now boasts nine goals in his last eight matches.
Late in the game, Ivory Coast’s Simon Adingra had a promising opportunity but was unable to convert when he failed to get a shot off in the penalty area. Germany swiftly countered, with Fofana making a critical save from Nathaniel Brown’s low shot.
At halftime, Germany had not found the back of the net despite eight attempts, leaving the team frustrated. They had an opportunity to score when Aleksandar Pavlovic’s header from a short corner was ruled out due to a foul on Fofana, much to the dismay of the large German contingent in the crowd.
Kessie’s goal marked Ivory Coast’s seventh consecutive game with a goal in the tournament, the longest such streak in their history.
With this victory, Germany leads Group E with six points, while Ivory Coast remains at three points following two matches. Ecuador and Curacao are scheduled to face off later in the day.
Germany will conclude the group stage against Ecuador on Thursday in New Jersey, while Ivory Coast is set to meet Curacao in Philadelphia.
