Germany has officially qualified for the playoffs of the 2026 FIFA World Cup following a 2-1 win against Ivory Coast in their second group match.
Both teams entered the match with victories from their opening games, with Germany having triumphed over Curaçao 7-1 and Ivory Coast narrowly defeating Ecuador 1-0.
Ivory Coast initially took the lead with a goal from Franck Kessié in the first half, maintaining their advantage for nearly 40 minutes. Although Germany had a goal from Alexander Pavlovich disallowed due to a foul, the tide turned when German forward Deniz Undav came off the bench.
Undav made an immediate impact, scoring the equalizer in the 68th minute, and then netting the winning goal in stoppage time at the 90+4 mark.
Match Summary: FIFA World Cup 2026, Group Stage
Germany vs. Ivory Coast: 2-1
Goals: Undav, 68, 90+4; Kessié, 30
This victory marks Germany’s return to the World Cup playoffs for the first time since 2014, after two consecutive exits in the group stage. They now sit at the top of their group with six points from two matches, while Ivory Coast remains in second place.
In another group match, Ecuador will face Curaçao on Sunday, June 21, at 3:00 AM Kyiv time.
Group Standings
- Germany — 6 points (2 matches), Goal Difference: 9:2
- Ivory Coast — 3 points (2 matches), Goal Difference: 2:2
- Ecuador — 0 points (1 match), Goal Difference: 0:1
- Curaçao — 0 points (1 match), Goal Difference: 1:7
Germany's recent win over Ivory Coast has secured their place in the 2026 World Cup playoffs, marking a significant turnaround for the team after previous group stage exits. With two victories under their belt, they lead their group as Ivory Coast remains in contention for advancement.