Germany’s 12-year wait to return to the World Cup knockout rounds is over, after Deniz Undav scored twice off the bench against Ivory Coast. Look back on the game with our Germany vs Ivory Coast stats page.
Deniz Undav was the hero with two goals off the bench, including a 94th-minute winner, as Germany reached the World Cup’s last 32 with a 2-1 victory over Ivory Coast.
In-demand RB Leipzig winger Yan Diomande produced another lively display in Toronto as Ivory Coast threatened to spring a surprise, going ahead through Franck Kessie‘s goal on the half-hour mark.
But having seen his side struggle for fluidity in attack, Julian Nagelsmann introduced Undav and Nadiem Amiri as part of a triple substitution on the hour, and they combined for the equaliser eight minutes later.
And Undav, who also scored twice as a substitute against Curacao last time out, clinched the three points with a lovely turn and finish in stoppage time, ensuring Germany will finish in the top two of Group E. They will top the section if Ecuador do not win their final two matches.
Ivory Coast looked lively on the break early on, but the first major chance went Germany’s way as Kai Havertz’s downward header was turned away by Yahia Fofana.
Felix Nmecha then saw a venomous strike from distance deflect onto the roof of the net, and though Aleksandar Pavlovic headed in from Nathaniel Brown’s subsequent corner, he was deemed to have fouled Fofana in the process.
But the hydration break seemed to stunt Germany’s momentum, and they fell behind to a goal that owed much to standout Ivory Coast winger Diomande. He raced past Joshua Kimmich before crossing low into the six-yard box, and though Brown’s block thwarted Amad Diallo, captain Kessie slotted his follow-up attempt past Manuel Neuer.
Germany then had another goal disallowed, with Havertz finishing into an unguarded net after being teed up by Florian Wirtz, only to see the play called back for Jamal Musiala tripping Odilon Kossounou.
Christ Inao Oulaï lifted over at the end of another fluid counter-attack early in the second half, before Havertz headed a deep Kimmich corner wide of a gaping goal.
But Germany’s substitutes made the difference as Amiri’s cross from the right was side-footed into the roof of the net by Undav, who would still have one last contribution to make.
After Simon Adingra and Brown passed up great chances at either end, Undav spun on Nmecha’s piercing pass and, having been played onside by Ghislain Konan, he slotted past Fofana to spark wild celebrations on the Germany sideline.
Germany’s Knockout Wait Over After Undav Heroics
After suffering back-to-back group-stage exits for the first time in their World Cup history in 2018 and 2022, Germany knew a victory here would clinch their first knockout-stage game at the tournament since the 2014 final.
They were seriously tested, however, with Bundesliga breakout star Diomande taking the fight to them throughout the first half – Ivory Coast directed 56.1% of their attacks before half-time going down the left flank.
Diomande’s cross led to Kessie’s goal, as he became the second-oldest Ivory Coast goalscorer at a World Cup, at the age of 29 years and 183 days. Only Didier Drogba (32 years, 101 days) has scored for them at the tournament while older, against Brazil in 2010.
Germany had to survive another wave of pressure right after the restart, but Undav’s introduction changed the game.
He already has five goal involvements as a substitute at this World Cup, having scored one goal and assisted two versus Curacao. That is the joint-most by any player at a single edition since records began in 1966, alongside Cameroon’s Roger Milla in 1990.
Undav is also the first Germany player to score in his first two World Cup appearances since Miroslav Klose in 2002 – if he can get anywhere near the exploits of the tournament’s joint-record goalscorer, Die Nationalelf will be very happy indeed.
Our Opta match centre delivers you all the Germany vs Ivory Coast stats from their 2026 FIFA World Cup Group E meeting at Toronto Stadium on 20 June.
The match centre below includes team and player stats, expected goals data, passing networks, an Opta chalkboard and more. It gives you everything you need to do your own match analysis.
Underneath the match centre you can find the official Opta stats on the game as well.
Germany vs Ivory Coast: Post-Match Opta Facts
- Deniz Undav has been directly involved in five goals as a substitute at the 2026 FIFA World Cup (3 goals, 2 assists) – the joint most at a single edition of the competition since 1966 (alongside Roger Milla in 1990).
- Deniz Undav is the first player to score on both of his first two FIFA World Cup appearances for Germany since Miroslav Klose in 2002.
- Aged 29 years and 183 days, Franck Kessié is the second oldest goalscorer for Côte d’Ivoire at the FIFA World Cup, behind only Didier Drogba in 2010 (32 years and 101 days); while Kessié is also the oldest African player to ever score against Germany in the competition.
- Germany have won both of their opening two matches for the first time at the FIFA World Cup since 2006, having failed to do in each of the previous four editions.
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