Germany end the group stage with a loss, while Ecuador and Ivory Coast secure qualification

Germany suffered their first defeat of the 2026 World Cup group stage, losing 2-1 to Ecuador in the final Group E match.

Despite the loss, the Germans managed to keep top spot and secure qualification for the knockout stage.

Germany made the perfect start, with Leroy Sané scoring in just the second minute.

However, the lead did not last long, as Ecuador responded immediately and equalized in the 9th minute through José Angulo, who scored a spectacular goal.

In the second half, Ecuador continued pushing for a comeback and found it in the 77th minute, when Gonzalo Plata found the back of the net to seal a 2-1 victory for the South American side.

With this result, Germany finished Group E in first place with 6 points. Ivory Coast also ended with 6 points but finished second due to an inferior goal difference.

Meanwhile, Ecuador moved up to 4 points and secured a place in the next round as one of the best third-placed teams.

In the group’s other match, Ivory Coast claimed a 2-0 win over Curaçao. The standout performer was Nicolas Pépé, who scored both goals and led his team to qualification for the Round of 32.

“KORÇA BOOM”