- Ecuador stun Germany 2-1 to qualify for the 2026 FIFA World Cup last 32 as one of the best third-placed teams.
- The match was staged at the New York New Jersey Stadium on Thursday, June 25.
- Germany finished top of Group E with six points, level with Ivory Coast, but advanced as group winners on goal difference.
Ecuador qualified for the 2026 FIFA World Cup knockout phase in pulsating, memorable fashion as they came from behind to stun Germany 2-1 on Thursday night at New York New Jersey Stadium.
Having failed to find the net in their opening two matches; a draw with Curaçao and a loss to Ivory Coast, Ecuador’s three-point haul saw them finish Group E in third place with four points.
They trailed group-toppers Germany, who ended on six points, level with Ivory Coast after the Ivorians confirmed Curacao’s elimination with a 2-0 victory.
Ecuador stun Germany 2-1
Leroy Sane controversially fired Germany ahead less than two minutes into the clash, but Ecuador hit back through a fine strike from Sunderland winger Nilson Angulo.
Plata then prodded home from close range with 13 minutes remaining, igniting ecstatic celebrations among the largely Ecuadorian crowd in New Jersey as the South Americans secured their place as one of the eight best third-placed teams.
Germany will travel to Foxborough for their last-32 tie against another third-placed finisher on Monday, in their first World Cup knockout match since lifting the trophy in 2014.
Sane swept in a first-time shot from Florian Wirtz’s lay-off in the area, but Ecuador were incensed that a foul was not given earlier in the move, when Aleksandar Pavlovic caught Pedro Vite in the head with a high boot.
The decision to let the goal stand sparked a furious reaction from Ecuador, who levelled seven minutes later as Angulo drilled low past Manuel Neuer from 20 yards after Felix Nmecha lost possession in his own half.
Kai Havertz tested Hernan Galindez with a header and then thought he had won a penalty less than 30 seconds after half-time when Joel Ordonez upended the Arsenal striker in the box.
VAR intervened on this occasion, to Ecuador’s evident relief, and the spot-kick was overturned after a foul by Sane on Vite in the build-up.
Confusion between Neuer and Jonathan Tah almost let Kevin Rodriguez sneak in and Plata steered wide from the follow-up cross delivered by Moises Caicedo.
Sane had a glorious chance to put Germany back on top but shot tamely at Galindez, and Ecuador made the most of that escape as Plata rode to the rescue.
Rodriguez flicked on a corner and Plata stabbed home from right in front of Neuer to end Germany’s 11-match winning run and book Ecuador’s place in the knockout stage for only the second time, provoking tears of joy from their fans in the stands.
Ecuador vs Germany – FIFA World Cup Group E Lineups (June 25, 2026)
- Ecuador XI: Galindez, Hincapie, Ordonez, Pacho, Vite, Franco, Caicedo, Yeboah, Valencia, Plata, Angulo
- Germany XI: Neuer, Rudiger, Tah, Kimmich, Raum, Pavlovic, Nmecha, Musiala, Wirtz, Sane, Havertz
Read more about other World Cup teams in 2026 below:
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Argentina national football team 2026
Mexico national football team 2026
Spain national football team 2026
Brazil national football team 2026
France national football team 2026
Senegal national football team 2026