Image: from Infinita Scientia 12 X @donoe_siziba
By Open Chronicle with agencies
Germany secured their place in the Round of 32 of the 2026 FIFA World Cup after coming from behind to defeat the Ivory Coast 2,1 in a dramatic Group E encounter on Saturday.
A late brace from substitute Deniz Undav inspired the comeback victory, ensuring Germany maintained their perfect start to the tournament and booked qualification for the knockout stage with a match to spare.
Ivory Coast, who opened their campaign with a 1,0 victory over Ecuador, took the lead in the 30th minute through Franck Kessié. The African side delivered a disciplined performance and looked on course to claim a valuable result against one of the tournament’s favorites.
Germany struggled to break down the Ivorians for much of the contest, but the introduction of Undav in the 60th minute changed the course of the match.
The striker leveled the score in the 68th minute, finishing clinically to bring Germany back into the game. As the match entered stoppage time, Undav struck again in the fourth minute of added time, completing the turnaround and sealing a crucial 2,1 victory for the four-time world champions.
The result leaves Germany at the top of Group E with six points from two matches. Their campaign began with an emphatic 7,1 victory over Curaçao, and the latest win guarantees progression to the Round of 32.
Ivory Coast remains second in the group with three points and will still be confident of advancing, depending on the outcome of their final group match.
Meanwhile, Ecuador and Curaçao occupy the bottom two positions without a point. The two sides are set to face each other in the early hours of Sunday in a match that could have significant implications for the battle to qualify.
Germany’s qualification highlights their strong form at the tournament, while Undav’s match-winning performance underlined the squad’s depth and attacking quality as they continue their pursuit of World Cup glory.