Ivory Coast edge Ecuador 1-0 on 90th-minute winner

Ivory Coast marked their return to the World Cup after a 12-year absence with a 1-0 victory over Ecuador, sealed by Amad Diallo's 90th-minute winner.

The Group E opener was played Monday at Philadelphia Stadium in Pennsylvania, with Ivory Coast claiming all three points in their first appearance at the 2026 North America World Cup.

Germany had earlier set the pace in Group E by thrashing Curacao 7-1, leaving Ivory Coast in second place with a strong chance of advancing to the round of 32. It was Ivory Coast's first World Cup since 2014; they had been eliminated in the group stage at each of their three previous appearances — in Germany in 2006, South Africa in 2010 and Brazil in 2014.

Ecuador dominated possession in the first half and pressed aggressively from the opening whistle, while Ivory Coast's Yann Djiomande was a threat down the right flank. Neither side could find the net, and Ecuador were twice denied by the woodwork — John Yeboah's left-footed effort from distance in the 23rd minute and Alan Minda's right-footed shot in the 30th both struck the crossbar.

Ivory Coast pushed their defensive line higher after the break and went on the attack. In the 52nd minute, Eli Wahi struck a powerful right-footed shot from the center of the penalty area, only to see it cannon off the crossbar.

With Ivory Coast continuing to press, Wilfried Singo broke down Ecuador's right flank in the 90th minute and cut a low, fast ground cross into the center of the box. Diallo met it with a clean left-footed finish, finding the bottom-left corner of the Ecuador goal.

Ivory Coast held on through seven minutes of stoppage time to complete the 1-0 win.