Côte d’Ivoire came within minutes of one of the major results of the 2026 FIFA World Cup before Germany struck deep into stoppage time to claim a 2-1 victory in Group E at Toronto Stadium.
The Elephants led for much of the match through Franck Kessié’s first-half goal and produced a brave, disciplined and energetic performance against the four-time world champions.
But Deniz Undav equalised in the second half before scoring again in the 94th minute to send Germany into the round of 32 and leave Côte d’Ivoire facing a decisive final group match against Curaçao.
It was a painful ending for Emerse Faé’s side, who had matched Germany physically, competed strongly in midfield and created enough chances to take at least a point.
For long spells, Côte d’Ivoire looked capable of delivering a famous World Cup victory.
Instead, Germany showed the kind of ruthless finishing that separates elite tournament sides from those still trying to turn strong performances into historic results.
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