Substitute Denis Undav seals Germany's comeback win over Ivory Coast, clinches round-of-32 berth

Germany has secured a place in the round of 32 at the 2026 North America World Cup.

The German national team came from behind to defeat Ivory Coast 2-1 in their Group E second match at Toronto Stadium in Canada on Sunday.

Having routed Curaçao 7-1 in their opening match, Germany also dispatched Ivory Coast — effectively a battle for first place in Group E — to stay atop the group with six points from two wins.

The result ended Germany's 12-year wait to advance past the World Cup group stage, a drought stretching back to their triumph at the 2014 Brazil tournament. Germany became the third country to clinch a round-of-32 berth at this World Cup, after Mexico and the United States.

Germany had trailed by a goal after Ivory Coast captain Franck Kessié scored in the 30th minute, but substitute Denis Undav turned the match around after coming on in the second half.

Just eight minutes after entering the pitch, Undav leveled the score at 1-1 in the 68th minute, converting Nadim Amiri's cross with a precise left-footed shot in front of goal. He then completed the comeback in the 94th minute, receiving a through ball from Felix Nmecha before spinning to slot the ball into the left side of the net.

ESPN said Undav, who came on in the 60th minute, became the hero of the comeback win and only the fourth player in World Cup history to score both an equalizer and a winning goal as a substitute.