Germany secured their place in the knockout rounds of the 2026 FIFA World Cup in the most dramatic fashion possible on Saturday, as substitute Deniz Undav scored twice in the second half deep into stoppage time to overturn a one-goal deficit and claim a 2-1 victory over Ivory Coast in Group E at Toronto Stadium before 43,036 spectators.

The four-time world champions are back in the knockout stages after a 12-year absence, having followed their 2014 triumph with consecutive group-stage exits in 2018 and 2022. The win was hard-fought and far from comfortable, with Julian Nagelsmann’s side requiring a transformative triple substitution on the hour mark to rescue a result that had appeared to be slipping beyond them.

Ivory Coast threatened to spring a genuine surprise, taking the lead through Franck Kessie’s goal on the half-hour mark after Yan Diomande produced a lively display down the left flank. Diomande burst into space and delivered a dangerous cross which Amad Diallo could not convert after Nathaniel Brown blocked on the line, but Kessie stabbed home the rebound to stun Germany. The Ivory Coast captain became the second-oldest scorer for his nation at a World Cup, at 29 years and 183 days — only the legendary Didier Drogba, who scored against Brazil in 2010, has found the net for the Elephants at the tournament at an older age.

Germany had a goal disallowed shortly after through Kai Havertz, before Ivory Coast began the second period with renewed confidence, with Christ Inao Oulaï lifting over a presentable chance and Diomande dragging a volley wide. Nagelsmann moved decisively on the hour mark, introducing Undav, Nadiem Amiri, and Jamie Leweling as part of a triple substitution that ultimately transformed the contest.

Two of the three new arrivals combined to restore parity with 22 minutes remaining. After Amiri was afforded too much time on the right flank, he served up a wonderful curled delivery for Undav to convert with a controlled volley. Germany pressed for a winner as the clock wound down, and it arrived in extraordinary fashion. In the fourth minute of stoppage time, Felix Nmecha stayed composed and drilled a pass into Undav’s path. The striker took a touch to turn before blasting a precise finish past goalkeeper Yahia Fofana to send the German bench into wild celebration.

Undav has now been directly involved in five goals as a substitute at this World Cup three goals and two assists the joint most at a single edition of the competition since 1966, alongside Roger Milla’s legendary campaign in 1990. He is also the first German player to score in his first two World Cup appearances since Miroslav Klose in 2002. Germany boast a plethora of top-flight talent across their squad, including a Bayern Munich core of Joshua Kimmich, Aleksandar Pavlovic, and Jamal Musiala, alongside Arsenal’s Kai Havertz and Liverpool’s Florian Wirtz, but on the night it was the impact substitute who proved the decisive difference.

Germany will secure top spot in Group E with a point in their final match, or if Ecuador fail to beat Curaçao. For Ivory Coast, the defeat is not disastrous, and they head into their final group game knowing that a victory against Curaçao should be sufficient to keep their knockout stage hopes alive.