LIVEBLOG: Ecuador vs. Germany - 2026 FIFA World Cup
Live coverage from 21:30 (CET), as Group E winners Germany face Ecuador in the final match of the first phase in East Rutherford.
| Photo: Steffen Prößdorf, CC BY-SA 4.0 |
Simo Frigolé
30': ECUADOR 1-1 GERMANY
The match resumes. Shots are currently 4-1 to Germany, 2-1 on target, with Julian Nagelsmann's side holding 54 % possession. Pass accuracy is even on both sides at 89 %, but Germany have completed 151 passes and Ecuador 126.
The match resumes. Shots are currently 4-1 to Germany, 2-1 on target, with Julian Nagelsmann's side holding 54 % possession. Pass accuracy is even on both sides at 89 %, but Germany have completed 151 passes and Ecuador 126.
Simo Frigolé
27': ECUADOR 1-1 GERMANY
Into the first hydration break in East Rutherford. It is one of the hotter days of this tournament - sunny and with temperatures reaching 28 degrees Celsius, feeling like 28 on this Thursday afternoon. The temperature will drop two degrees following the full-time whistle, at 18.00 (EDT).
Into the first hydration break in East Rutherford. It is one of the hotter days of this tournament - sunny and with temperatures reaching 28 degrees Celsius, feeling like 28 on this Thursday afternoon. The temperature will drop two degrees following the full-time whistle, at 18.00 (EDT).
Simo Frigolé
25': ECUADOR 1-1 GERMANY
Wirtz threads the ball through the legs of Sané, hoping to allow it to roll to Musiala - however, Joel Ordóñez times his clearance well, allowing the ball to come back to the left side of the Ecuadorian third. Wirtz whips in a near-post cross, finding Havertz inside the goal area - the Arsenal forward leaps above Pacho, but his attempt is thwarted by a diving Galíndez.
Wirtz threads the ball through the legs of Sané, hoping to allow it to roll to Musiala - however, Joel Ordóñez times his clearance well, allowing the ball to come back to the left side of the Ecuadorian third. Wirtz whips in a near-post cross, finding Havertz inside the goal area - the Arsenal forward leaps above Pacho, but his attempt is thwarted by a diving Galíndez.
Simo Frigolé
23': ECUADOR 1-1 GERMANY
Yeboah supplies a pass to Vite at the edge of the box, and the latter crosses it towards the goalmouth. Enner Valencia attempts to get onto it with a towering header, but completely misses and after it deflects off the body of Kimmich, Antonio Rüdiger will clear it from danger.
Yeboah supplies a pass to Vite at the edge of the box, and the latter crosses it towards the goalmouth. Enner Valencia attempts to get onto it with a towering header, but completely misses and after it deflects off the body of Kimmich, Antonio Rüdiger will clear it from danger.
Simo Frigolé
22': ECUADOR 1-1 GERMANY
Yeboah sends it near-post, but Neuer is there to punch it well away from danger. Vite waits a few seconds for it to bounce out - thus giving a throw to the South American side.
Yeboah sends it near-post, but Neuer is there to punch it well away from danger. Vite waits a few seconds for it to bounce out - thus giving a throw to the South American side.
Simo Frigolé
21': ECUADOR 1-1 GERMANY
Willian Pacho attempts to cross the ball into the centre of the box, from the right side of the German half; a sliding Kimmich meets it with a perfectly-timed strike with his right boot. Ecuador regroup, and Hincapié blasts the ball off Kimmich for a corner on the left side, which John Yeboah will swing into the box.
Willian Pacho attempts to cross the ball into the centre of the box, from the right side of the German half; a sliding Kimmich meets it with a perfectly-timed strike with his right boot. Ecuador regroup, and Hincapié blasts the ball off Kimmich for a corner on the left side, which John Yeboah will swing into the box.
Simo Frigolé
19': ECUADOR 1-1 GERMANY
Ecuador launch a counterattack on the left side of the German third. Piero Hincapié and Kimmich contest for the ball, but the former pushes the latter to the ground as Kimmich tugs on the jersey of the former Bayer 04 Leverkusen wing-back. Tori Penso awards a free kick to Germany and Neuer appears to be the one to hoof it long.
Ecuador launch a counterattack on the left side of the German third. Piero Hincapié and Kimmich contest for the ball, but the former pushes the latter to the ground as Kimmich tugs on the jersey of the former Bayer 04 Leverkusen wing-back. Tori Penso awards a free kick to Germany and Neuer appears to be the one to hoof it long.
Simo Frigolé
16': ECUADOR 1-1 GERMANY
With Julian Nagelsmann playing all but two starters from the Côte d'Ivoire match (Raum in place of Brown at LB, Rüdiger in place of the injured Schlotterbeck at RCB), it will be interesting to see if he turns to his bench earlier than usual - given that there is nothing to play for other than a perfect finish in Group E. It would not only give the reserves some time to create chances and build chemistry with a portion of the main squad, but also gives the starters some rest ahead of a win or go home Round of 32 meeting at Gillette Stadium.
With Julian Nagelsmann playing all but two starters from the Côte d'Ivoire match (Raum in place of Brown at LB, Rüdiger in place of the injured Schlotterbeck at RCB), it will be interesting to see if he turns to his bench earlier than usual - given that there is nothing to play for other than a perfect finish in Group E. It would not only give the reserves some time to create chances and build chemistry with a portion of the main squad, but also gives the starters some rest ahead of a win or go home Round of 32 meeting at Gillette Stadium.
Simo Frigolé
13': ECUADOR 1-1 GERMANY
Jamal Musiala breaks through the Ecuadorian midfield and passes to his right to Felix Nmecha, close to the edge of the box. The Hamburg-born Borussia Dortmund midfielder cannot take full advantage, as his right-footed attempt bounces wide of the left post for a goal kick to Galíndez.
Jamal Musiala breaks through the Ecuadorian midfield and passes to his right to Felix Nmecha, close to the edge of the box. The Hamburg-born Borussia Dortmund midfielder cannot take full advantage, as his right-footed attempt bounces wide of the left post for a goal kick to Galíndez.
Simo Frigolé
11': ECUADOR 1-1 GERMANY
Because of the Angulo equaliser, the table updates, with Ecuador moving back into third place:
1. Germany (2-1-0, 7 pts) 10-3
2. Côte d’Ivoire (2-1-0, 7 pts) 3-2
3. Ecuador (0-2-1, 2 pts) 1-2
4. Curaçao (0-1-2, 1 pt) 1-8
Because of the Angulo equaliser, the table updates, with Ecuador moving back into third place:
1. Germany (2-1-0, 7 pts) 10-3
2. Côte d’Ivoire (2-1-0, 7 pts) 3-2
3. Ecuador (0-2-1, 2 pts) 1-2
4. Curaçao (0-1-2, 1 pt) 1-8
Simo Frigolé
10': ECUADOR 1-1 GERMANY
ECUADOR GOAL
N. Angulo (assist: P. Vite)
Joshua Kimmich and Felix Nmecha leave a bit too much space for Nilson Angulo in the centre of the German half, and he takes full advantage of it by sending a beautiful dipping right-footed shot past a leaping Manuel Neuer and into the bottom-right corner. Ecuador draw level and now have a one-point advantage over Curaçao in the race for third in Group E.
ECUADOR GOAL
N. Angulo (assist: P. Vite)
Joshua Kimmich and Felix Nmecha leave a bit too much space for Nilson Angulo in the centre of the German half, and he takes full advantage of it by sending a beautiful dipping right-footed shot past a leaping Manuel Neuer and into the bottom-right corner. Ecuador draw level and now have a one-point advantage over Curaçao in the race for third in Group E.
Simo Frigolé
7': ECUADOR 0-1 GERMANY
UPDATE: CURAÇAO 0-1 CÔTE D’IVOIRE
Côte d’Ivoire jump in front in Philadelphia, thanks to a Nicolas Pepe attempt that goes into the bottom-right corner. Yan Diomande, who currently plays his club football with RB Leipzig in the Bundesliga, picks up the assist. With that, Ecuador move back into third in the table:
1. Germany (3-0-0, 9 pts) 10-2
2. Côte d’Ivoire (2-1-0, 7 pts) 3-2
3. Ecuador (0-1-2, 1 pt) 0-2
4. Curaçao (0-1-2, 1 pt) 1-8
UPDATE: CURAÇAO 0-1 CÔTE D’IVOIRE
Côte d’Ivoire jump in front in Philadelphia, thanks to a Nicolas Pepe attempt that goes into the bottom-right corner. Yan Diomande, who currently plays his club football with RB Leipzig in the Bundesliga, picks up the assist. With that, Ecuador move back into third in the table:
1. Germany (3-0-0, 9 pts) 10-2
2. Côte d’Ivoire (2-1-0, 7 pts) 3-2
3. Ecuador (0-1-2, 1 pt) 0-2
4. Curaçao (0-1-2, 1 pt) 1-8
Simo Frigolé
4': ECUADOR 0-1 GERMANY
Sané's opener pushes Ecuador to the bottom of the table, with Curaçao taking the third place spot at the moment because their score remains 0-0.
1. Germany (3-0-0, 9 pts) 10-2
2. Côte d’Ivoire (1-1-1, 4 pts) 2-2
3. Curaçao (0-2-1, 2 pts) 1-7
4. Ecuador (0-1-2, 1 pt) 0-2
Sané's opener pushes Ecuador to the bottom of the table, with Curaçao taking the third place spot at the moment because their score remains 0-0.
1. Germany (3-0-0, 9 pts) 10-2
2. Côte d’Ivoire (1-1-1, 4 pts) 2-2
3. Curaçao (0-2-1, 2 pts) 1-7
4. Ecuador (0-1-2, 1 pt) 0-2
Simo Frigolé
2': ECUADOR 0-1 GERMANY
TOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOR!!!
L. Sané (assist: F. Wirtz)
Florian Wirtz makes his way into the left side of the box and taps it to Leroy Sané - who curls the ensuing left-footed attempt past Hernán Galíndez and into the bottom-left corner! Ecuador are protesting - they thought that Aleksandar Pavlović caught Pedro Vite with a high boot in the buildup to his pass to Wirtz, but the goal will stand and Germany are in front.
TOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOR!!!
L. Sané (assist: F. Wirtz)
Florian Wirtz makes his way into the left side of the box and taps it to Leroy Sané - who curls the ensuing left-footed attempt past Hernán Galíndez and into the bottom-left corner! Ecuador are protesting - they thought that Aleksandar Pavlović caught Pedro Vite with a high boot in the buildup to his pass to Wirtz, but the goal will stand and Germany are in front.
Simo Frigolé
1': ECUADOR 0-0 GERMANY
And we are underway in the final round of Group E in East Rutherford! Germany, in blue, kick off and will go left to right in the opening term - Ecuador, in gold, will go right to left when on the attack.
The other group match, Curaçao - Côte d'Ivoire in Philadelphia, has also begun.
And we are underway in the final round of Group E in East Rutherford! Germany, in blue, kick off and will go left to right in the opening term - Ecuador, in gold, will go right to left when on the attack.
The other group match, Curaçao - Côte d'Ivoire in Philadelphia, has also begun.
Simo Frigolé
The two sides have taken to the field at MetLife Stadium. National anthems, followed by the coin toss and kickoff between Ecuador and Germany this afternoon.
Simo Frigolé
Germany are already confirmed to be playing the third-place team from any of Groups A, B, C, D, or F this upcoming Monday, with kickoff that one set for 16.30 (EDT) / 22.30 (CET) in Foxborough.
The team that places second will face the runner-up of Group I (which is the losing side of the France - Norway match) in Arlington on Tuesday, 12.00 (EDT) / 19.00 (CET).
The team that places second will face the runner-up of Group I (which is the losing side of the France - Norway match) in Arlington on Tuesday, 12.00 (EDT) / 19.00 (CET).
Simo Frigolé
The Group E table, going into the final day, looks like this:
1. Germany (2-0-0, 6 pts) 9-2
2. Côte d’Ivoire (1-0-1, 3 pts) 2-2
3. Ecuador (0-1-1, 1 pt) 0-1
4. Curaçao (0-1-1, 1 pt) 1-7
Germany have already finished first in the group - since if they were to lose and Côte d’Ivoire were to win today, the DFB-Team would finish first on head-to-head record. Both Ecuador and Curaçao could have been eliminated in the second round, but both avoided it through a 0-0 draw. However, if they draw / lose their matches, their chances of making the next phase are very small.
1. Germany (2-0-0, 6 pts) 9-2
2. Côte d’Ivoire (1-0-1, 3 pts) 2-2
3. Ecuador (0-1-1, 1 pt) 0-1
4. Curaçao (0-1-1, 1 pt) 1-7
Germany have already finished first in the group - since if they were to lose and Côte d’Ivoire were to win today, the DFB-Team would finish first on head-to-head record. Both Ecuador and Curaçao could have been eliminated in the second round, but both avoided it through a 0-0 draw. However, if they draw / lose their matches, their chances of making the next phase are very small.
Simo Frigolé
Germany have met Ecuador on only two occasions in their history, both going to the DFB-Team. The first was a 3-0 victory at the 2006 tournament on goals from Miroslav Klose (twice) and Łukasz Podolski, and the second was a 2013 friendly that ended 4-2 on a pair of goals from Podolski and Lars Bender. Antonio Valencia and Wálter Ayoví scored for Ecuador in that meeting.
Simo Frigolé
Simo Frigolé
Hello again everyone, welcome to liveblog coverage of the third and last Group E match at the 2026 FIFA World Cup, between Germany and Ecuador at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford. Updates from this match, and goal updates from Curaçao - Côte d'Ivoire, to come over the next 3 hours.
