Germany secured their place in the last 32 of the World Cup on Saturday, fighting from behind to beat Ivory Coast 2-1 in added time.
Die Nationalmannschaft made it two wins from two, but this result was nothing like their opening 7-1 thrashing of Curacao; Julian Nagelsmann’s side fell behind in the first half here, as Franck Kessie converted a rebound after a fine run and cross by Yan Diomande.
Ivory Coast, who began their own Group E campaign with a last-gasp win over Ecuador, then streamed forward at every opportunity, with Germany looking desperately vulnerable to a second goal from the underdogs.
But it never came, and Nagelsmann’s substitutes made the difference – especially Deniz Undav, who scored twice, including in the 94th minute. With that, Germany are through to the last 32, while Ivory Coast face an important tie with Curacao next.
Re-live all the action from Group E with our live blog below:
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Germany vs Ivory Coast live
- FULL TIME: Germany's late win takes them through to last 32
- 90+4' GOAL! Undav strikes again to break Ivory Coast hearts in final moments (GER 2-1 CIV)
- 68' GOAL! Undav brings Germany level after onslaught from Ivory Coast (GER 1-1 CIV)
- 30' GOAL! Kessie rebound stuns Germans after defensive mix-up (GER 0-1 CIV)
- Germany take on Ivory Coast with knockout place on the line | Kick-off at 9pm, live on ITV1
Was Germany fightback surprisingly rare?
23:26 , Alan SmithBefore tonight Germany had won just one of their previous 10 World Cup matches in which they had conceded first, losing seven of them. Denis Undav has improved the record.
That first touch
23:13 , Alan SmithWatching Undav’s second goal back and the first touch to control it while turning is so impressive.
Deniz Undav gets his second of the game and secures the win for Germany 🇩🇪 pic.twitter.com/IRQRTbrTNH
— ITV Football (@itvfootball) June 20, 2026
Full-time! Germany 2-1 Ivory Coast
23:01 , Alan SmithAnd there it is. Such character and resilience from Germany, whose substitutions make the difference, but it is also cruel on Ivory Coast. They played some wonderful football - especially in the first half - and must surely progress anyway with Curacao to come in the final game of the group stages on Thursday night.
Germany 2-1 Ivory Coast
23:00 , Alan Smith97’ - We’re into time added on after added time. Nagelsmann is howling for the whistle... any second now.
Germany 2-1 Ivory Coast
22:59 , Alan SmithIt will count because Konan plays Undav on. Nmecha drills in a lovely pass to the forward just inside the box. He takes a fantastic first touch to allow a turn and then smashes home a left-footed strike that has surely won the game for Germany.
GOAL! Germany 2-1 Ivory Coast (Undav, 94)
22:57 , Alan SmithThe substitute strikes again... it will be checked for offside but Germany are celebrating.
Germany 1-1 Ivory Coast
22:56 , Alan Smith92’ - Germany are pushing a bit higher, probing in search of a late winner that would be cruel on Ivory Coast. But the Ivorians are maintaining their compact shape, sitting back and hoping of another chance to counter themselves.
Germany 1-1 Ivory Coast
22:53 , Alan Smith90’ - There will be six minutes added on. And in the first of them Amiri gets a nice sight of goal only to prod straight at Fofana.
Germany 1-1 Ivory Coast
22:52 , Alan Smith89’ - And now Fofana makes a top save to deny Brown. Will we get a winner? A draw is probably fair....
Germany 1-1 Ivory Coast
22:51 , Alan Smith88’ - Ivory Coast get a rare opportunity to break with numbers and Pepe does really well to time his pass from right to left towards Adingra perfectly. Except Adingra makes an absolute mess of his touch when he looked beautifully positioned to strike.
Germany 1-1 Ivory Coast
22:48 , Alan Smith85’ - Another Ivory Coast change as Diomande comes off. And Pepe comes on.
Germany’s final change sees Goretzka replace Havertz.
Germany 1-1 Ivory Coast
22:46 , Alan Smith84’ - Singo’s mood will be lifted if his team can profit from a corner. Their attacks are becoming rarer and this one goes by without Neuer having to break sweat.
Germany 1-1 Ivory Coast
22:45 , Alan Smith83’ - Doue is on for Singo, who has buried his face inside his shirt, apparently distraught, while treatment continues as he sits on the bench.
Germany 1-1 Ivory Coast
22:42 , Alan Smith81’ - Singo has done his hamstring when duelling with Havertz. The ball goes out of play and the Ivorian does too - before he rolls on to the pitch so the game can stop and he is able to have medical treatment. His match looks over.
Germany 1-1 Ivory Coast
22:42 , Alan Smith80’ - Diomande is now back on the right wing and still looking full of energy
Germany 1-1 Ivory Coast
22:40 , Alan Smith77’ - Attendance fans will be glad to hear that 44,000 are in for this one.
Back on the pitch Germany look to pile more pressure on in search of a winner.
Germany 1-1 Ivory Coast
22:38 , Alan Smith75’ - It’s a farewell to Bonny, Amad and Sangare, and a hello to Guessand, Seko Fofana and Adingra as Ivory Coast make a triple change of their own..
Germany 1-1 Ivory Coast
22:37 , Alan SmithEmerse Fae has spent most of the hydration break down the tunnel rather than briefing his players. Presumably the toilet was calling...
Germany 1-1 Ivory Coast
22:35 , Alan Smith71’ - Rudiger boots the ball into Row Z as Diomande runs towards him. And that is time for the hydration break - which is NOT met with boos. Probably because the fans are so engrossed by this game.
Germany 1-1 Ivory Coast
22:33 , Alan Smith69’ - It’s a nice first-time finish from Undav, arriving like a poacher for his eighth international goal in 11 caps after Amiri floats in a beautiful cross from the right. Two of the three subs combine... now over to you Jamie Leweling.
GOAL! Germany 1-1 Ivory Coast (Undav, 68)
22:31 , Alan SmithGermany are level and Nagelsmann’s changes have paid quick dividends!
Germany 0-1 Ivory Coast
22:30 , Alan Smith67’ - Fofana punches a cross away and goes down claiming hurt having collided with Agbadou. Kessie seems furious with the referee.
Germany 0-1 Ivory Coast
22:28 , Alan Smith65’ - Amiri, not on long, appears in discomfort after knocking knees when pursuing a dribble forward. He’s hobbling but will no doubt shake it off.
Germany 0-1 Ivory Coast
22:26 , Alan Smith63’ - Germany are stepping things up. A long cross towards Undav is headed away for a corner. Kimmich decides to go long and this one evades Fofana’s ambitious attempt to get a hand on it only for Havertz to make a mess of his chance, heading wide.
Germany 0-1 Ivory Coast
22:23 , Alan Smith60’ - Musiala, Sane and Pavlovic are off. Leweling, Undav and Amiri are on. Nagelsmann has only one more change to make.
Leweling’s arrival will see Havertz drop back into a No. 10 role, you would imagine.
Germany 0-1 Ivory Coast
22:22 , Alan Smith59’ - But first they win a corner and then another after the initial one is taken short. Kimmich puts some whip on the second except Fofana catches it with little bother.
Germany 0-1 Ivory Coast
22:20 , Alan Smith58’ - Germany are about to make a triple substitution.
Germany 0-1 Ivory Coast
22:19 , Alan Smith56’ - Right now it is all Ivory Coast. Diomande delivers deep from the left to Amad but he cannot control. They then come back at Germany and following a bit of messy play in the box the ball breaks to Diomande on the edge but he cannot get a clean attempt away.
Germany 0-1 Ivory Coast
22:17 , Alan Smith54’ - Amad has been brilliant since the break. He makes hay down the right and finds Kessie in the box but the goalscorer is crowded out in yet another position of promise.
Germany 0-1 Ivory Coast
22:15 , Alan Smith51’ - Another big chance, this one for Oulai having also exchanged passes with Amad. But the young midfielder cannot find a way past Neuer.
Germany 0-1 Ivory Coast
22:14 , Alan Smith50’ - A glorious chance for Kessie having exchanged neat passes with Amad. But Tah intervenes, his stretched leg blocking a shot that did not look entirely convincing despite Kessie being in such a promising position.
Germany 0-1 Ivory Coast
22:11 , Alan Smith48’ - Musiala jinks inside to shoot when he might have been better trying to switch play to Sane, who was completely unmarked, on the opposite side. Sangare produces a really good block.
Germany 0-1 Ivory Coast
22:09 , Alan Smith46’ - One half-time change for Germany as Rudiger comes on for Schlotterbeck, who is presumably off with the injury sustained early on.
Restarted! Germany 0-1 Ivory Coast
22:08 , Alan SmithWe’re back underway in Toronto.
Germany will curse hydration break
21:56 , Alan SmithKessie’s goal emanated from a tasty move by Diomande but will Germany rue a sluggish enough start from the hydration break? The goal came very, very soon after the resumption and you wonder if the goal would have happened without three minutes of rest.
Half-time! Germany 0-1 Ivory Coast
21:53 , Alan Smith52’ - Wirtz, almost. A lovely bit of one-touch play involving Nmecha, Wirtz and Musiala ends with Wirtz poking goalwards but he cannot connect cleanly.
And that is the end of a very entertaining half.
Germany 0-1 Ivory Coast
21:51 , Alan Smith51’ - Nmecha, again, wins the ball in his own half and tries to set his team free. It runs out of steam, allowing Ivory Coast to get enough men back to hold their compact shape again.
Germany 0-1 Ivory Coast
21:49 , Alan Smith49’ - Ivory Coast win a corner. Brown clears it as the first man.
Germany 0-1 Ivory Coast
21:48 , Alan Smith48’ - Musiala goes down just outside the box, screaming for a foul, but replays show he ran into Amad himself while trying to dribble past. Play on is the correct decision.
Germany 0-1 Ivory Coast
21:47 , Alan Smith47’ - Nmecha does really well tracking back to deny Singo from progressing a rare foray forward too far into the Germany half.
Germany 0-1 Ivory Coast
21:45 , Alan Smith45’ - There will be seven added minutes.
Germany 0-1 Ivory Coast
21:42 , Alan Smith42’ - Wirtz, following some lovely play by Musiala, takes a shot from mid-range. It is blocked for a corner, from which Tah leaps high and tries to direct goalwards but Ivory Coast defend it well.
Germany 0-1 Ivory Coast
21:40 , Alan Smith39’ - Hmm. Havertz thinks he has scored but a foul by Musiala earlier on in the build-up means it is ruled out before the ball stops nestling in the net. The referee was, correctly if infuriatingly, waiting for the goal to be scored before whistling for the foul - because otherwise VAR would not have been able to check. It also seemed like the Ivorians had effectively stopped playing because they knew it had been a foul. All a bit odd and uncertain but the scoreline remains 1-0 - that much we can confirm.
Germany 0-1 Ivory Coast
21:37 , Alan Smith36’ - Germany’s immediate response is a bit beige. Long way to go but they may find that this is an opponent that proves increasingly difficult to break down.
Germany 0-1 Ivory Coast
21:33 , Alan Smith32’ - Ivory Coast are on the front foot again and looking rather confident. How do Germany respond to some adversity?
Germany 0-1 Ivory Coast
21:31 , Alan SmithIt’s so good from Diomande to create it, cutting in from the left and providing a nightmare-to-defend cross. Amad tries to have a go but Brown does well to get a block in...only as far as Kessie, who arrives at the back stick at the perfect moment to finish.
GOAL! Germany 0-1 Ivory Coast (Kessie, 30)
21:30 , Alan SmithWell that’s a way to use the break.
Germany 0-0 Ivory Coast
21:29 , Alan Smith28’ - We’re underway again.
Germany 0-0 Ivory Coast
21:25 , Alan Smith25’ - Booooooooooooooooooo! Annoyance is made clear from the stands as the ref signals it’s time for a three-minute rest.
Germany 0-0 Ivory Coast
21:24 , Alan Smith23’ - Play resumes with Fofana taking a free kick. Next time it goes out we’ll have the hydration break and the Germany fans are already booing (the non-award of a goal more than the incoming break but I’m sure the jeers will return for that too)
Germany 0-0 Ivory Coast
21:22 , Alan Smith22’ - Nmecha has a go from range and it results in a corner. Brown takes short to Kimmich. He swings it in and goalkeeper Fofana makes a mess of it on first viewing under pressure from Pavlovic. The ball is palmed into the net by the Ivorian keeper. The referee immediately whistles for a free out but VAR is having a look while Fofana signals a need for treatment.
Germany 0-0 Ivory Coast
21:19 , Alan Smith20’ - Germany’s interplay in midfield has been great to watch at times - they just need to knit it together a little higher up the pitch to cause some proper damage.
Germany 0-0 Ivory Coast
21:18 , Alan Smith18’ - Musiala shuffles his way across the outer edge of the box and takes a shot that is not too far away at all.
Germany 0-0 Ivory Coast
21:17 , Alan Smith16’ - Schlotterbeck has had the magic sponge and spray and looks OK to continue for now.
Brown turns his jets on down the left and causes a brief moment of concern in the Ivorian defence.
Germany 0-0 Ivory Coast
21:14 , Alan Smith14’ - Schlotterbeck is down and signalling a need for attention on his ankle. He is likely to be substituted.
Germany 0-0 Ivory Coast
21:13 , Alan Smith12’ - Schlotterbeck is hobbling after a fair challenge with Amad. Meanwhile, Ivory Coast advance down the left and after some pinball Singo, in nosebleed territory when it comes to open play, has a shot that is blocked.
Germany 0-0 Ivory Coast
21:10 , Alan Smith9’ - Havertz is in a good spot to lay off to Wirtz just inside the box but the Arsenal man is too casual and cedes possession. Well, briefly because Germany win it back and a cross from Kimmich is then met by Havertz. His header is saved.
Germany 0-0 Ivory Coast
21:07 , Alan Smith6’ - The intensity is high but the match is yet to settle. It’s all a bit frantic without anything really happening outside the central third.
Germany 0-0 Ivory Coast
21:03 , Alan Smith3’ - A first sight of Diomande on the ball having been set away from Bonny. The former’s left-footed delivery is blocked.
Kick-off! Germany 0-0 Ivory Coast
21:00 , Alan Smith1’ - Germany get us going, kicking from left to right. And inside 15 seconds, following a long ball, Havertz pokes over with his left foot.
20:59 , Alan SmithIn Houston they had Titanium pre-match. In Toronto they have... you guessed it.
Anyway, Germany are in white tops, black shorts, white socks. Ivory Coast are in orange.
Almost time
20:55 , Alan SmithThe teams are out, the anthems are being sung and it looks a glorious day in Toronto with bright blue skies above.
20:48 , Alan SmithAccording to Fifa’s in-house media there are more than 100,000 people with German ancestry in Toronto, which could mean a rather big support inside the ground.
Diomande shines bright
20:43 , Alan SmithDiomande started on the right against Ecuador, meaning a lot of crosses since he is, well, right-footed. But he will now be on the left with Amad coming into the XI and, presumably, performing on the right. Will that mean Diomande shifts in and gets a couple of more shots off?
20:35 , Alan SmithThe race for the golden boot at World Cup 2026 is expected to be fierce, with Lionel Messi, Harry Kane, Kylian Mbappe and Erling Haaland making early statements in their respective bids to finish the tournament at the top of the scoring charts - but Germany’s Kai Havertz is up there too and will be hoping to add a third (or fourth) to his tally this evening.
The first ever 48-team World Cup features an additional round of 32, offering the world’s top strikers an additional opportunity of bagging an extra goal as they dream of embarking on a deep run into the tournament.
If players are tied for goals, the number of assists will determine who ranks higher. If there is still a tie, it comes down to minutes played and the goals-per-minute ratio. Here are the latest 2026 World Cup golden boot standings.
World Cup 2026 golden boot standings: Messi, Kane and Mbappe early front-runners
That's all from Lineker
20:22 , Alan SmithThis Lineker appearance may be a promo for some new Saturday night entertainment/game show he has made for ITV that airs in autumn.
But he does finish his short stint in the studio with praise for Woods, who he describes as doing a “fabulous job” and a quick reference to his podcast...
Getting used to the surroundings
20:19 , Alan SmithBoth sets of players were on the pitch early to take a look around - and now they are coming out for their warm-ups.
Tonight's referee...
20:16 , Alan Smith... is Juan Gabriel Benitez, a Paraguayan making his debut on this stage.
20:11 , Alan SmithITV update: Laura Woods has allowed Lineker to present a link to the ad break previewing what else they will be talking about before the game kicks off.
No mention of another broadcaster - yet...
20:06 , Alan SmithLineker is indeed on ITV, talking about Harry Kane and his own World Cup goals alongside Ian Wright, Gary Neville and Duncan Ferguson.
Late action
20:02 , Alan SmithThe other game in this group sees Ecuador face Curacao in Kansas in a few hours - 1am BST to be precise.
Ecuador know they must win that comfortably - regardless of what happens in this one.
Full time elsewhere: Netherlands 5-1 Sweden
19:58 , Alex PattleSweden on the right end of a 5-1 earlier this week, now the wrong end!
Netherlands leapfrog them at the top of Group F.
No changes from Nagelsmann
19:51 , Alex PattleSo, the same starting XI that beat Curacao 7-1. No changes, and no surprise there.
Ivory Coast XI to play Germany
19:51 , Alex PattleY Fofana; Kossounou, Singo, Agbadou, Konan; Diomande, Kessie, Sangare, Oulai; Bonny, Diallo.
In contrast to Germany, Ivory Coast have made a few changes!
Germany XI to play Ivory Coast!
19:48 , Alex PattleNeuer; Kimmich, Tah, Schlotterbeck, Brown; Nmecha, Pavlovic; Sane, Musiala, Wirtz; Havertz.
Teams announced soon
19:34 , Alex PattleThe starting line-ups for Germany and Ivory Coast will land soon, so don’t go anywhere!
We’ll have them for you very shortly.
Sweden strike back after another Dutch goal
19:23 , Alex PattleWow, Gakpo grabs a second goal and he now has a brace like Brobbey.
It’s 4-0 to Netherlands, and Sweden look finished already...
Or are they?? Anthony Elanga with a great finish on the break! 4-1!
Netherlands extend lead early in second half
19:12 , Alex PattleWill we see this many goals when Germany vs Ivory Coast gets going?
Cody Gakpo just struck for the Dutch early in the second half, as Netherlands moved into a 3-0 lead over Sweden.
What a comedown for the Swedes, after their 5-1 thrashing of Tunisia.
Elsewhere: Netherlands lead Sweden at half-time
18:55 , Alex PattleTwo early strikes from Brian Bobbey have Netherlands 2-0 up against Sweden at half-time!
Just before the break in that Group F clash, Gustaf Lagerbielke thought he’d pulled one back for the Swedes, but his header was disallowed for offside.
Diomande's tribute
18:43 , Alan SmithYan Diomande has paid an emotional tribute to his sister Roxane, who passed away aged 15 following an incident in which she allegedly had a drink spiked, with the Ivory Coast star saying: “Everything I do on a football pitch, it’s for you.”
The RB Leipzig winger, in an article published by the Players’ Tribune, has revealed the heartbreak he experienced when being told that his sister had died not long after he made his debut for Leganes in La Liga last year.
Diomande, 19, wrote: “I never got any answers. I don’t know if I want to know why. Maybe it was jealousy. Maybe it’s just something that happens in our country. Maybe I could have protected you. I don’t know.”
Ivory Coast World Cup star pens heartbreaking tribute to late sister
Predicted line-ups
18:33 , Alan SmithGermany XI: Neuer; Kimmich, Tah, Sclotterbeck, Raum; Goretzka, Pavlovic; Sane, Musiala, Wirtz; Havertz
Ivory Coast XI: Fofana; Doue, Kossounou, Diomande, Konan; Kessie, Sangare; Amad, Toure, Diomande; Bonny.
Exclusive: Lineker's ITV appearance
18:20 , Will CastleGary Lineker is set to make a shock appearance for ITV as part of their 2026 World Cup coverage on Saturday.
The Independent understands the former Match Of The Day host will be an ITV pundit for the Group E clash between Germany and Ivory Coast. Coverage of the game will start at 8pm BST with kick-off in Toronto an hour later.
Netflix appeared to be Lineker’s home for this summer’s World Cup, who is believed to have paid an eye-watering £14m to house The Rest Is Football podcast, produced by his company Goalhanger Podcasts, during the tournament. Lineker has been hosting daily episodes alongside Micah Richards and Alan Shearer in the heart of New York City, recording in an apartment that overlooks Times Square.
Gary Lineker to appear on ITV World Cup coverage
How to watch
18:09 , Alan SmithViewers in the UK can watch the match free-to-air on ITV1 with coverage starting at 8pm BST. It can also be live-streamed on ITVX.
Welcome to coverage of a match that promises much
18:00 , Alan SmithHello there. This should be rather good, an effective shootout that could decide top place in a group that looked far tricker than most.
We should learn a lot more about both teams too. Germany’s eventual scoreline against Curacao was flattering and the first half performance was far from exceptional. Ivory Coast, meanwhile, were not overly impressive either before winning late against Ecuador - an exciting attack appearing to be hamstrung by nerves early on.
Now they have settled, the search for some rhythm is on and we can only hope they both look to attack from the outset.
Kick off in Toronto is 9pm BST or 4pm local time and you can follow every major kick right here.
