Germany stages dramatic comeback to defeat Ivory Coast 2-1 and reach 2026 World Cup Round of 32

Sports Tak

Sports Tak

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Germany vs Ivory Coast in the frame (Image via Getty)
Germany vs Ivory Coast in the frame (Image via Getty)

Story Highlights:

Ivory Coast took a deserved lead in the 30th minute when Franck Kessie opened the scoring

Germany coach Julian Nagelsmann turned to his bench after the break, introducing Undav, whose impact proved decisive

Germany came back from a deficit to defeat Ivory Coast 2-1 and qualify for the 2026 FIFA World Cup Round of 32. All thanks to goals from substitute Deniz Undav, who scored twice in the second half as Germany mounted a thrilling comeback to beat the opponents.

Ivory Coast took a deserved lead in the 30th minute when Franck Kessie opened the scoring. The Elephants dominated much of the first half and created several opportunities, but wasteful finishing allowed Germany to stay in the contest. 

Germany coach Julian Nagelsmann turned to his bench after the break, introducing Undav, whose impact proved decisive. The Stuttgart forward equalized in the 68th minute with a clinical finish before dramatically sealing the victory with a stoppage-time winner in the 90+4th minute.

Germany stages dramatic comeback to defeat Ivory Coast 2-1 and reach 2026 World Cup Round of 32

The win ensures Germany’s progression from the group stage, while Ivory Coast’s strong performance highlighted their potential despite the narrow defeat. The result keeps alive Germany’s hopes of mounting a serious challenge in the tournament, with the team showing resilience in a high-pressure encounter.

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