LIVEBLOG: Germany vs. Côte d’Ivoire - 2026 FIFA World Cup

Hello again everyone, welcome back to continuing coverage of the German national team at the 2026 FIFA World Cup. Over the next 3 hours, I will be posting minute-by-minute updates as the DFB-Team face Côte d'Ivoire in a major Group E matchup here in Toronto.

For the confirmed lineups for both Germany and Côte d'Ivoire this afternoon, here is our article.

Just a reminder of how the Group E table looks going into today:

1. Germany (1-0-0, 3 pts) 7-1
2. Côte d'Ivoire (1-0-0, 3 pts) 1-0
3. Ecuador (0-0-1, 0 pts) 0-1
4. Curaçao (0-0-1, 0 pts) 1-7

Ecuador and Curaçao will face each other at 20.00 (EDT) / 02.00 (CET) in Kansas City.

Côte d'Ivoire picked up a 1-0 victory over Ecuador in their opening match in Philadelphia this past Sunday, with the deciding marker having come off the boot of Amad Diallo in the ninetieth minute. This was just hours after Germany defeated Curaçao 7-1 in Houston, with six different goalscorers contributing to the DFB-Team's dominant victory.

The only prior meeting between the two sides was a 2-2 draw in an international friendly in Gelsenkirchen on 18. November 2009. Łukasz Podolski scored both goals for Germany, including a last-minute equaliser; Emmanuel Eboué and Seydou Doumbia scored for Côte d'Ivoire.

Manuel Neuer is the only name from that matchday squad to be in this one, although he was on the bench - with then-Werder goalkeeper Tim Wiese starting in one of only six appearances that he made for the national team between 2008 and 2012.

We want to hear your thoughts on this match: will Germany win and punch their ticket to the knockouts? Could Côte d'Ivoire surprise? Who do you think will be the breakout player this afternoon?

Feel free to let us know! Send a DM on X (kettusport) or Instagram (kettusport_), and your observations may be featured in this afternoon's liveblog.

The players are now in the tunnel - once they arrive at the centre circle, national anthems, followed by the coin toss and kickoff at BMO Field.

This is a clash of two teams that have very good recent records. Germany have won all of their last 10 matches, with their last defeat having come 0-2 to Slovakia in the first round of qualifying back in September. Côte d'Ivoire, on the other hand, have won all of their last four, with their most recent defeat having come 2-3 to Egypt in January; they also have eight wins out of their last nine (8-1-1).

Both sides make their way onto the field in Toronto. We are just moments away from kickoff in this pivotal Group E encounter.

Germany can win the group with a win today and a Curaçao victory / draw against Ecuador.

Côte d'Ivoire can win the group with a win today and an Ecuador victory / draw against Curaçao.

The first-place team in Group E will play on Monday, 29. June at 16.30 (EDT) / 22.30 (CET) against a third-place side from one of Group A, B, C, D, or F (to be determined by the third-place ranking).

1': GERMANY 0-0 CÔTE D'IVOIRE

Kai Havertz with the opening kick and we are underway in Toronto! Germany, in their famous white uniforms, will go left to right; Côte d'Ivoire, in orange, will go right to left when on the attack.

1': GERMANY 0-0 CÔTE D'IVOIRE

Florian Wirtz sets up Kai Havertz for an almost immediate opener with a flick pass into the centre of the box. The half-volley from the Liverpool striker and former Leverkusen teammate goes above Yahia Fofana, over the bar and out for a goal kick to Émerse Faé's Ivorian side.

3': GERMANY 0-0 CÔTE D'IVOIRE

Côte d'Ivoire launch a quick counter, with Ange-Yoan Bonny quarterbacking the play from the middle of the ground to the edge of the box. His pass to the left reaches Yan Diomande inside the box, but Nico Schlotterbeck gets a foot on the following pass attempt to the goal area and Joshua Kimmich is able to clear.

5': GERMANY 0-0 CÔTE D'IVOIRE

Amad Diallo starts another break for the Ivorians, but any chance that may have come from it would not have counted - as the Manchester United winger was offside in the build-up.

7': GERMANY 0-0 CÔTE D'IVOIRE

Along the touchline on the left side, Bonny weaves his way close to the box, but his cross into the centre of the box is hit too far. Franck Kessié picks it up on the right side of the German third and Émerse Faé's side will continue on the attack.

9': GERMANY 0-0 CÔTE D'IVOIRE

David Raum moves well upfield on a German counterattack, delivering a cross into the centre of the box from the left side of the Ivorian third. The ball gets caught between his legs, but the DFB-Team maintain possession. It eventually lands to Joshua Kimmich, who crosses the ball back to Havertz for a towering header - landing just metres from the goal line, but punched away by the gloves of Yahia Fofana. What a chance to jump in front!

12': GERMANY 0-0 CÔTE D'IVOIRE

After Bonny cannot generate a chance on the left side of the box, Diomande crosses the ball into the box, which Nathaniel Brown heads away. It lands to Wilfried Singo on the edge of the area, but his powerful follow-up is also blocked by the Eintracht Frankfurt wing-back.

13': GERMANY 0-0 CÔTE D'IVOIRE

Nico Schlotterbeck was involved in a collision with Amad Diallo earlier in this match, clutching his left leg in the seconds that followed. It looks like it is continuing to bother him, as the medical staff come on and the defensive substitutes start to warm up along the sideline.

15': GERMANY 0-0 CÔTE D'IVOIRE

Schlotterbeck will go behind the German goal to receive treatment from the medical staff. Under new FIFA rules, he cannot return back onto the field for another minute - meaning that for the time being, Côte d'Ivoire will play 11v10.

16': GERMANY 0-0 CÔTE D'IVOIRE

Nico Schlotterbeck shakes it off and will continue.

17': GERMANY 0-0 CÔTE D'IVOIRE

Nathaniel Brown starts an onside run on the left side of the Ivorian half. He attempts a ground pass to Leroy Sané at the edge of the area, but Emmanuel Agbadou gets there first and hoofs it well away from danger. Germany will have an opportunity to regroup as they quickly win possession back, starting with Raum.

18': GERMANY 0-0 CÔTE D'IVOIRE

Aleksandar Pavlović wins a battle in the midfield and sets up Jamal Musiala for a right-footed attempt that goes just wide of the bottom-right corner! Second time in the last fifteen minutes that Germany have come within metres of an opening strike in Toronto.

19': GERMANY 0-0 CÔTE D'IVOIRE

Brown with a through pass into the left side of the box, but Fofana darts into the space and covers the ball before Havertz can get to it. Fofana punts it long, Schlotterbeck gathers and Germany will now pass it around along the back line.

20': GERMANY 0-0 CÔTE D'IVOIRE

Felix Nmecha with a shot from distance, deflecting off the body of Odilon Kossounou and just over the bar for a German corner.

22': GERMANY 0-0 CÔTE D'IVOIRE

Brown's cross is met by the hands of Fofana, who was actively in an aerial battle with Pavlović. Fofana knocks it into the bottom-left corner, but hold on - a foul is called against the Bayern defensive midfielder and this one is coming back! The German players are arguing that the contact was legal, but this one will remain scoreless as the decision from Paraguayan official Juan Gabriel Benítez does not change.

Fofana is getting treatment from the medical staff in the goal area.

24': GERMANY 0-0 CÔTE D'IVOIRE

Both sides are called to the first hydration break of this match. There was a 40 % chance of rain here in Toronto, but it has since gone away - the current temperature on a partly cloudy Saturday afternoon is 24 degrees Celsius, feeling like 24, dropping only when the match finishes around 18.00 (EDT).

27': GERMANY 0-0 CÔTE D'IVOIRE

Play resumes with a Côte d'Ivoire throw-in on the right side of their own half, following the three-minute stoppage.

29': GERMANY 0-1 CÔTE D'IVOIRE
CÔTE D'IVOIRE GOAL: F. Kessié

Côte d'Ivoire jump in front.

Yan Diomande's cross from the left side of the box lands in front of Amad Diallo at the edge of the German goal area, but his shot towards the bottom-right corner is blocked by a sliding Nathaniel Brown. With Manuel Neuer already on the ground, ready to take the impact of the Diallo shot before Brown made his block, the rebound of that block lands in front of Franck Kessié - who taps it into the bottom-left corner to put Émerse Faé's side in the lead after a half-hour.

32': GERMANY 0-1 CÔTE D'IVOIRE

Live table:
1. Côte d'Ivoire (2-0-0, 6 pts) 2-0
2. Germany (1-0-1, 3 pts) 7-2
3. Ecuador (0-0-1, 0 pts) 0-1
4. Curaçao (0-0-1, 0 pts) 1-7

If Côte d'Ivoire hold on for the victory and Ecuador defeats / draws Curaçao tonight, Les Éléphants win Group E and will play their Round of 32 match on Monday, 29. June at 22.30 (CET) in Foxborough. Germany, at best, would have to play the runner-up of Group I on Tuesday, 30. June at 19.00 (CET) in Arlington.

34': GERMANY 0-1 CÔTE D'IVOIRE

Pass accuracy is not too far off between the two sides, as the main form has been quick, short passes along the sides to overload the wing-backs with pressure. Germany holds a 90 % accuracy on 181 passes; Côte d'Ivoire, 89 % on 131. Germany holds 58 % possession at this point of the match.

34': GERMANY 0-1 CÔTE D'IVOIRE

Now Bonny goes for a shot from distance, aimed towards the top-right corner. It does not test Neuer too much, as he gloves it down with both hands and then plays the ball short.

38': GERMANY 0-1 CÔTE D'IVOIRE

Musiala wins the ball from Koussonou, but catches the right boot of the Atalanta centre-back in the process. Wirtz takes possession before tapping the ball to Havertz - and the Arsenal striker bangs it into the bottom-left corner. This one will not count because of the clip, though - the second time that a German goal has been disallowed in this half.

40': GERMANY 0-1 CÔTE D'IVOIRE

Musiala deflects the ball off Ghislain Konan and then taps the ball to Wirtz for a right-footed attempt at the edge of the box. Kossounou and Agbadou both charge to attempt a block, and the latter does just enough with a sliding tackle to deflect it to the left of the goal for a corner to the DFB-Team.

42': GERMANY 0-1 CÔTE D'IVOIRE

The ensuing corner is cleared. In the seconds that follow, Germany moves it back to the defence - Kimmich knocks a through ball towards the right side of the box, but it is overhit and Brown cannot take advantage. Fofana will get it back and takes seven seconds for Côte d'Ivoire to regroup before punting it into the middle of the ground.

45+1': GERMANY 0-1 CÔTE D'IVOIRE

There will be seven additional minutes to the first half in Toronto.

45+2': GERMANY 0-1 CÔTE D'IVOIRE

Nmecha taps the ball into the right side of the Ivorian third, close to the box to Sané; the Galatasaray winger tries to cross the ball into the centre of the box, but Singo deflects it for an eventually unsuccessful corner to Julian Nagelsmann's side.

45+3': GERMANY 0-1 CÔTE D'IVOIRE

Jamal Musiala weaves his way around Kessié and Singo, before his legs potentially made slight contact with those of the latter. He goes down, but no foul is called; Julian Nagelsmann is livid on the touchline, as is assistant coach Benjamin Glück it appears.

45+4': GERMANY 0-1 CÔTE D'IVOIRE

Bonny darts along the right side of the German third, but Brown gets into the space in front and makes a clean standing tackle to force a corner to the Ivorians. The ensuing set piece is headed away by Schlotterbeck.

45+6': GERMANY 0-1 CÔTE D'IVOIRE

Sané with a short pass to Nmecha at the edge of the box, who sends a beautiful backheel in the direction of an onside Wirtz. He cannot take full advantage of it, as his contest with the Ivorian centre-backs ends with the ball rolling right into the hands of Fofana.

HT: GERMANY 0-1 CÔTE D'IVOIRE

And that will do it for the first half, as Juan Gabriel Benítez calls both sides to the change rooms. Franck Kessié's goal at the half-hour mark currently stands as the difference maker, with Côte d'Ivoire 1-0 in front at BMO Field in Toronto.

HT: GERMANY 0-1 CÔTE D'IVOIRE

Shots in the opening term finished 8-4 to Germany, 2-2 on target. Julian Nagelsmann's side held 61 % possession and finished the half with an 89 % accuracy on 287 passes, compared to 88 % on 182 for Émerse Faé's Côte d'Ivoire.

HT: GERMANY 0-1 CÔTE D'IVOIRE

What do you think of Germany's performance this afternoon? Will they find an equaliser - and who can do it for them? Do you believe that Côte d'Ivoire can sustain their momentum in the second half, even under intense pressure?

We want to hear from you! Feel free to send a message on X (kettusport) or Instagram (kettusport_) - and you might see your thoughts on the match so far here in our liveblog during the next 45.

HT: GERMANY 0-1 CÔTE D'IVOIRE

Looking at the performance of the German squad so far, it is interesting to see the role that Jamal Musiala is currently playing within the squad. He seems to be primarily attacking from the left side, rather than the central areas and barely touching the right side compared to the Curaçao match in Houston - allowing Havertz and Sané to cover that section of the ground. 17 / 21 in passing so far, an 81 % success rate.

HT: GERMANY 0-1 CÔTE D'IVOIRE

Felix Nmecha started at the left side of the defensive midfield against Curaçao and made an instant impact - then, after moving to the right side, was crucial to opening up that previously struggling flank and overloading the wings as the main link between the back line and Sané. This time, he starts on the right side against stronger opposition and has not been as effective when it comes to ground duels, 5 / 13 despite a few moments of brilliance.

HT: GERMANY 0-1 CÔTE D'IVOIRE

Both sides make their way back onto the field in Toronto. Antonio Rüdiger will enter the match in the first change from Julian Nagelsmann, replacing Nico Schlotterbeck at RCB amidst injury concerns.

46': GERMANY 0-1 CÔTE D'IVOIRE

Ange-Yoan Bonny with the first kick of the second half. Côte d'Ivoire, in orange, will go left to right in this term; Germany, in white, right to left.

47': GERMANY 0-1 CÔTE D'IVOIRE

Brown has been effective when it comes to counterattacks, and he starts another one closer to the left side of the Côte d'Ivoire half. His pass to the left reaches Musiala inside the box - the Stuttgart-born Bayern attacking midfielder goes for the bottom-left corner from close range, but Agbadou slides in and taps it away for a corner.

49': GERMANY 0-1 CÔTE D'IVOIRE

Diallo enters the right side of the German penalty area, and knocks the ball away from Brown - tapping it to Kessié in open space close to the goal area. Nmecha steps in to prevent a brace Kessié's ensuing attempt goes off his right leg, out for a corner to the African side.

50': GERMANY 0-1 CÔTE D'IVOIRE

Christ Inao Oulaï breaks out on a counterattack in the centre of the German half. He sends a ground pass into the right side of the box to Diallo, who in turn passes back; Oulaï, sprinting towards the goal area, powers an immediate right-footed attempt well over the bar for a goal kick to the Germans.

52': GERMANY 0-1 CÔTE D'IVOIRE

Wirtz, from the left side of the box, sets up Havertz on the left side of the goal area; the ball gets caught between the legs of the Aachen, Nordrhein-Westfalen-born forward, and Fofana rushes in to grab onto it with both hands.

54': GERMANY 0-1 CÔTE D'IVOIRE

Diallo weaves his way past Brown on the right side of the German third; he finds Kessié through a few German screens in front, but Tah and Rüdiger are both there to send the ball away for a corner. Kessié goes down in a collision with Rüdiger, but no call is made from Juan Gabriel Benítez because Rüdiger won the ball back before sending it away.

55': GERMANY 0-1 CÔTE D'IVOIRE

Diomande with a shot from distance, but it does not test Neuer too much - going well wide of the bottom-left corner. Rüdiger follows on the German counter with a right-footed longshot of his own, but it goes well over the bar.

57': GERMANY 0-1 CÔTE D'IVOIRE

Jamie Leweling appears to be on the touchline, one of what may be two changes for Julian Nagelsmann's side in the next few minutes.

59': GERMANY 0-1 CÔTE D'IVOIRE

Deniz Undav just made his way onto the touchline, I believe this will be a triple change for Germany at the hour mark. Kimmich with a recent corner, direct and grabbed onto by Fofana with both hands.

61': GERMANY 0-1 CÔTE D'IVOIRE

Julian Nagelsmann uses three of his remaining four changes, all of which appear to be attacking-minded as Germany continues to push for an equaliser. Aleksandar Pavlović replaced at CDM by Nadiem Amiri; Jamal Musiala replaced at LAM by Deniz Undav; Leroy Sané replaced at RAM by Jamie Leweling.

62': GERMANY 0-1 CÔTE D'IVOIRE

Leweling's cross into the centre of the box nearly reaches Undav on the left side of the goal area, but Singo heads it away for a corner to the DFB-Team. Kimmich delivers it far-post, Havertz gets a near-perfect header on it but deflects it very close to the bottom-right corner. Goal kick to Côte d'Ivoire.

64': GERMANY 0-1 CÔTE D'IVOIRE

Brown attempts a cross into the right side of the box, but it deflects off the boot of Agbadou and Germany will get a corner from it.

66': GERMANY 0-1 CÔTE D'IVOIRE

The corner is punched away by Fofana, who goes down in some pain after colliding with Rüdiger and Koussounou. He will shake it off and continue.

68': GERMANY 1-1 CÔTE D'IVOIRE
TOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOR!!!
(D. Undav - assist: N. Amiri)

Nadiem Amiri with a cross into the centre of the box, from the right side of the Ivorian half. It misses Kai Havertz, but doesn't miss Denis Undav - who bangs a left-footed volley past Yahia Fofana and into the centre of the goal. It's game on in Toronto - Germany draw level in this crucial Group E clash!

70': GERMANY 1-1 CÔTE D'IVOIRE

Rüdiger's cross into the centre of the box is knocked away by Konan and Côte d'Ivoire go the other way. Diomande sprints along the left side of the German half, but before he can take possession, Rüdiger hoofs it into the crowd. We are now into the second cooling break of the match, with Germany holding a majority of the momentum following the equaliser.

74': GERMANY 1-1 CÔTE D'IVOIRE

Three changes coming for Côte d'Ivoire on the restart. Ibrahim Sangaré, Ange Yoan-Bonny, and Amad Diallo will exit at CM, CF, and RW; Seko Fofana, Evann Guessand, and Simon Adingra will replace them.

75': GERMANY 1-1 CÔTE D'IVOIRE

Play resumes. With the Undav goal, the first that Côte d'Ivoire have conceded at this tournament, the live table updates - Germany move back into first on goal differential:
1. Germany (1-1-0, 4 pts) 8-2
2. Côte d'Ivoire (1-1-0, 4 pts) 2-1
3. Ecuador (0-0-1, 0 pts) 0-1
4. Curaçao (0-0-1, 0 pts) 1-7

Note that Ecuador and Curaçao have not played their second match yet; they will go head-to-head in Kansas City tonight, with kickoff set for 19.00 (CDT - local time) / 02.00 (CET).

77': GERMANY 1-1 CÔTE D'IVOIRE

That Undav goal is the only shot on target in this second half. Shots are an even 4-4, and possession-wise, it is looking very similar to the opening term, with Germany holding 58 %.

78': GERMANY 1-1 CÔTE D'IVOIRE

"Deutschlandlied" ringing around BMO Field - the fans have been vocal throughout the match, but this is when it seems to be at its peak. There seems to be a lot of hope for a late decider going Germany's way, but they are going to withstand a brief period of pressure from the Ivorians first - as Diomande weaves his way into the right side of the box before Pavlović takes the ball away from him.

80': GERMANY 1-1 CÔTE D'IVOIRE

Havertz and Singo contest for possession close to the benches; Singo wins a throw before clutching his back of his left leg, going to ground. He requests treatment, and after a two-minute evaluation, is substituted off - with Guéla Doué replacing him at RB.

83': GERMANY 1-1 CÔTE D'IVOIRE

A change on either side will be made here. Leon Goretzka enters for Kai Havertz at ST within Julian Nagelsmann's German 4-2-3-1; Nicolas Pépé replaces Yan Diomande at LW within Émerse Faé's 4-3-3 for Côte d'Ivoire.

85': GERMANY 1-1 CÔTE D'IVOIRE

Deniz Undav with a shot from distance; Emmanuel Agbadou has to get his body out of the way to prevent a handball just inside the Ivorian penalty area, but it does not test Yahia Fofana too much - going into the France-born Çaykur Rizespor goalkeeper's hands without having to move too much.

87': GERMANY 1-1 CÔTE D'IVOIRE

Côte d'Ivoire go on a 3v2 counterattack against Rüdiger and Kimmich - with Pépé, Adingra, and Guessand making their way into the box. Right before he enters, Pépé crosses the ball into the left side of the area, but Adingra overthinks it and waits a second to take an attempt. He cannot get one off as by that time, Pavlović converges on him and makes a decent standing tackle.

89': GERMANY 1-1 CÔTE D'IVOIRE

Brown almost precisely picks out the bottom-right corner from the edge of the box, but Fofana parries it away with both gloves. Undav then finds Amiri for another right-corner chance, but Fofana gloves this one down and smothers it. Time running out for Germany to find a late decider, but apart from the Adingra chance, they have most of the momentum.

90+1': GERMANY 1-1 CÔTE D'IVOIRE

Six minutes will be added to the 90, before this one comes to a close at BMO Field.

90+3': GERMANY 1-1 CÔTE D'IVOIRE

Kimmich with a chip from the right side of the Ivorian half, but Fofana makes a small leap to grab onto the ball with both hands.

90+5': GERMANY 2-1 CÔTE D'IVOIRE
TOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOR!!!
(D. Undav - assist: F. Nmecha)

INCREDIBLE!!! Simply astonishing! Deniz Undav, at the double, at the death - and Germany are one step closer to winning Group E! If you blinked, you certainly would have missed it - Felix Nmecha with a through ball to Undav in the centre of the box, and in a split-second, he turns to get past Agbadou before sending a dipping shot past a surprised Fofana, into the bottom-left corner!

90+6': GERMANY 2-1 CÔTE D'IVOIRE

The Ivorian players want to see whether Undav was offside on the through ball - but it is determined by the review that he is, in fact, slightly onside at the moment of the Nmecha pass! Certainly now, Germany has all three points!

FT: GERMANY 2-1 CÔTE D'IVOIRE

And that is it! Germany defeat Côte d'Ivoire on a last-minute goal by Deniz Undav, a second-half brace as he scores in his second consecutive appearance at this tournmaent. What a match this was in Toronto - it was, to put it in one word, unfassbar!

FT: GERMANY 2-1 CÔTE D'IVOIRE

"Tage Wie Diese" by Die Toten Hosen starts playing over the speakers, and the supporters are singing it at full volume. The players and staff make their way to them to celebrate the victory, thanking them for their backing this afternoon.

FT: GERMANY 2-1 CÔTE D'IVOIRE

With that, there will be some score-watching to do tonight, if being up at 02.00 in the morning to watch a primetime match is your thing. Ecuador - Curaçao is the other Group E match in Kansas City, and if the match ends in a draw or a Curaçao upset, then Germany will play their Round of 32 match against the third-place side in Group A/B/C/D/F on Monday, 29. June at 22.30 (CET) in Foxborough.

FT: GERMANY 2-1 CÔTE D'IVOIRE

Before tonight's coverage comes to a close, we will take a look at the second half statistics and then the full-time statistics. The second half saw Germany outshoot Côte d'Ivoire 8-5, 5-0 on target with 58 % possession and an 89 % accuracy on 267 passes, compared to 83 % on 185 for the Ivorians.

FT: GERMANY 2-1 CÔTE D'IVOIRE

The full-time statistics show that Germany won in all of the major statistical categories. Shots finished 16-9, 7-2 on target; possession went 59 % to Julian Nagelsmann's side; and pass accuracy finished 89 % on 554 for Germany, 85 % on 367 for Côte d'Ivoire.

FT: GERMANY 2-1 CÔTE D'IVOIRE

So, next up: Ecuador. This was a crucial match, and depending on what happens elsewhere tonight, that one may be even more. Thursday afternoon, 16.00 (EDT) / 22.00 (CET) at the same venue as the Final - MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford - and I will be covering that one with another liveblog here on the Bulinews website, starting at 15.30 (EDT) / 21.30 (CET).

That is it for this liveblog. The next one will be at 15.30 (EDT) / 21.30 (EDT) on Thursday, as Germany faces Ecuador in East Rutherford in the final match of the group phase - certainly determining what the path to the 2026 FIFA World Cup Final will look like. Thanks so much for reading, have a good night and hope to see you then. Tschüss!