In a dramatic final round of Group E at the 2026 FIFA World Cup, Ecuador national football team pulled off a stunning 2-1 victory over Germany national football team, but the result was not enough to secure direct qualification for the knockout stage.
Despite the upset, Germany advanced as group winners on goal difference with six points, while Ivory Coast national football team booked their place as runners-up after defeating Curaçao national football team 2-0 in the other group match.
At the New York–New Jersey Stadium, Germany made a flying start when Leroy Sané found the net in the second minute after a brilliant move involving Florian Wirtz and Aleksandar Pavlović.
However, Ecuador responded quickly as Nilson Angulo capitalized on a defensive error to level the score in the ninth minute. After an intense second half, Gonzalo Plata scored the decisive winner in the 77th minute to complete a memorable comeback.
Meanwhile in Philadelphia, Ivory Coast dominated from the opening whistle. Nicolas Pépé opened the scoring in the seventh minute from a cutback by Yann Diomandé and later added his second goal in the 64th minute to secure a comfortable victory.
The final Group E standings saw Germany finish top with six points, ahead of Ivory Coast on goal difference. Ecuador ended third with four points, while Curaçao finished bottom with one.
Ecuador’s hopes of reaching the knockout stage now depend on the results of other groups, as they wait to see if their four-point tally will be enough to qualify as one of the tournament’s best third-placed teams.
