Sunday June 21, 2026
Deniz Undav (C) of Germany celebrate scoring during the group E match between Germany and Cote d’Ivoire at the 2026 FIFA World Cup at Toronto Stadium in Toronto, Canada, on June 20, 2026. (Photo by Zou Zheng/Xinhua)
Deniz Undav came off the bench to score twice and power Germany to a dramatic 2-1 comeback over Ivory Coast in their World Cup Group E encounter, a result that sent the four-time champions into the knockout stage for the first time since lifting the trophy in 2014.
Saturday’s match turned into a frenetic contest in Toronto. Germany had two first-half goals ruled out, but Julian Nagelsmann’s side stayed composed, moving the ball with purpose and patience, while the West Africans continued to threaten with their sharp, direct attacking style.
Undav brought Germany level in the 68th minute with a composed volley before striking again after turning onto a pass, swivelling quickly and driving in a finish that Yahia Fofana had no realistic chance of keeping out.
The adaptable forward now has nine goals across his last eight appearances.
Ivory Coast still had one more opportunity to snatch something from the game, with Simon Adingra failing to get a shot away in the box, and Germany immediately broke the other way, only for Fofana to deny Nathaniel Brown’s low effort.
Ivory Coast had gone in front earlier in the match through Franck Kessie, who converted the rebound after Amad Diallo’s shot, a move sparked by Yan Diomande’s surging run down the left and his cross into the area.
Germany had the backing of a large crowd in Toronto, where more than 100,000 people of German ancestry live, but they were left with plenty to lament at halftime after managing just eight attempts on goal without a breakthrough.
They thought they had scored in the 25th minute when midfielder Aleksandar Pavlovic rose to meet a short corner, only for the effort to be disallowed because he was judged to have fouled Fofana in the challenge.
Pavlovic reacted in disbelief, hands on his head, while Fofana required treatment following the collision, and the German supporters loudly voiced their frustration at the referee’s call.
Moments later, Ivory Coast made the pressure count as Kessie finished to give them the lead. The West Africans have now scored in their last seven matches at the tournament, the longest such run in their World Cup history.
Germany again found the net, but the celebration was quickly cut short when the referee ruled that Jamal Musiala had fouled Odilon Kossounou in the build-up.
Germany now lead Group E with six points and have advanced to the last 32, while Ivory Coast remain on three points after two matches. Ecuador and Curacao meet in Kansas City later on Saturday.
Germany will finish the group stage against Ecuador on Thursday in New Jersey, while Ivory Coast take on Curacao in Philadelphia.
