Germany came back against Ivory Coast in the final minutes to secure their ticket to the round of 16 of the 2026 World Cup. This outcome deprives the Elephants of a qualification they had long held, and grants the Mannschaft their first advancement from the group stage since their Brazilian triumph in 2014.

A late-match scenario

The match, locked down for a long time, turned in the last quarter of an hour. Ivory Coast, organized in a low block and relying on transitions, had until then contained most of the German intentions. But the classic scenario for great nations played out again: as the Ivorians retreated to preserve their lead, Germany finally found the breakthrough through a barrage of crosses and set pieces.

The end of a long dry spell

Since their world title won in Rio in 2014, the German selection had faced a series of disappointments on the international stage: eliminated in the first round in Russia in 2018, group stage exit in Qatar in 2022, disappointing runs in Euro 2024. This qualification, even if hard-fought, ends a decade of doubts and immediately legitimizes the coach before the rest of the tournament.

An expanded World Cup that tightens the gaps

The 48-team format adopted for this edition continues to show its main effect: it brings historical nations closer to outsiders and multiplies tight encounters. Ivory Coast, the reigning African vice-champion, goes out without shame and confirms that the sporting gap between confederations has significantly narrowed. Several European and South American powerhouses have already had similar scares since the kickoff.

What awaits the Mannschaft

Germany now looks ahead to a round of 16 match against the runner-up of another group. The staff will have to quickly address two questions: the ability of this generation to string together high-stakes matches after an exhausting group stage exit, and the choice of a starting eleven capable of maintaining the intensity for a long run to the final.

Editorial opinion

At this stage, the German victory says more about their management of the final minutes than about a real superiority in play. To watch for the future: the team's ability to turn these breathless finishes into a successful campaign – which historically distinguishes teams that go all the way.