Deniz Undav scored a dramatic injury-time goal to complete a comeback 2-1 victory for Germany over Ivory Coast on Saturday, securing their place in the FIFA World Cup 2026 knockout stage. The victory propelled Germany to the top of Group E.

Germany's progression marks their first appearance in the knockout rounds since their title win in 2014. The match, a dynamic Group E clash, saw Germany come from behind after having two first-half goals disallowed. Ivory Coast had initially taken the lead in the first half.

Undav, who came off the bench, scored in the 68th minute with a volleyed finish and then sealed the win with his second goal in injury time. He received a pass, turned, and fired home past Ivory Coast goalkeeper Yahia Fofana. The striker has now scored nine goals in his last eight matches. Germany's Nathaniel Brown also had a late chance blocked by Fofana.

The implications of this win are significant for Germany, who now advance as group winners. Ivory Coast, with three points after two matches, will need to secure a result in their final group game. The other Group E match between Ecuador and Curacao was scheduled to take place later on Saturday.

Ivory Coast opened the scoring in the first half through Franck Kessie, who converted a rebound from a shot by Amad Diallo. The play originated from a run down the left flank by Yan Diomande. This goal extended Ivory Coast's scoring streak in the tournament to seven consecutive matches, a new national record.

Despite the strong support from the crowd, estimated to be over 100,000 people of German ancestry in Toronto, Germany found themselves frustrated at halftime with no goals to show for their eight attempts. Midfielder Aleksandar Pavlovic had a goal disallowed in the 25th minute, with the referee deeming he had fouled Fofana. The decision led to disbelief from Pavlovic and vocal disapproval from the German supporters.

Germany had another goal disallowed later in the match. The referee ruled that Jamal Musiala had committed a foul on Odilon Kossounou in the build-up. These disallowed goals added to the tension of a match where both teams displayed their attacking strengths, with Ivory Coast showcasing their dynamic style and Germany relying on intricate passing.

With this victory, Germany secures their passage to the next round, maintaining their strong tournament form. The performance, particularly the late comeback, will provide a significant confidence boost as they move into the crucial knockout phase of the competition.