The Group E World Cup 2026 clash between Germany and Ivory Coast kicks off at 20:00 GMT on Saturday (4:00 AM Sunday Vietnam time) at Toronto Stadium, Canada. Both sides started the tournament with victories.
Germany, a four-time world champion, defeated Curacao 7-1 despite conceding an early goal. Ivory Coast edged Ecuador 1-0 with a last-minute goal from Amad Diallo, ending the South American side’s 19-match unbeaten run.
The win over Curacao extended Germany’s streak to 10 consecutive victories, scoring at least two goals in nine of those matches. However, their defense remains a concern, having conceded in all seven World Cup games since the 2014 final against Argentina.
Ivory Coast aims for a fifth straight win, buoyed by their victory over Ecuador and a friendly win against France earlier this month. Their last defeat came in the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations quarterfinals against Egypt.
This is only the second meeting between the two sides. Their previous encounter, a friendly in November 2009, ended in a 2-2 draw, with Lukas Podolski scoring twice for Germany.
Coach Julian Nagelsmann is likely to stick with the same starting lineup, though Deniz Undav—who scored and provided two assists after replacing Jamal Musiala—may earn a start. For Ivory Coast, coach Emerse Fae has several attacking options, including Elye Wahi, Ange-Yoan Bonny, Oumar Diakite, and Evann Guessand.
Match-winner Amad Diallo is pushing for a starting spot, while Yan Diomande (RB Leipzig) is expected to impress in front of a German audience.
If Germany wins, they will almost certainly secure top spot in the group, barring an Ecuador win over Curacao that would create a three-way tie on six points. If Ivory Coast wins, they would reach the knockout stage for the first time and could top the group if Ecuador fails to beat Curacao.
