EAST RUTHERFORD, NEW JERSEY / EuroWire / – Ecuador reached the Round of 32 at the FIFA World Cup 2026 with a 2-1 comeback win over Germany on Thursday in Group E. Germany scored first at the stadium in East Rutherford. Ecuador answered quickly and won late through Gonzalo Plata, securing a knockout place as one of the best third-place teams.
Leroy Sané gave Germany the lead in the second minute. Nilson Angulo equalized in the ninth minute with a right-footed finish after Ecuador moved the ball through midfield. Plata scored the decisive goal in the 77th minute. Kevin Rodríguez kept the corner-kick move alive before Plata beat Manuel Neuer from close range.
Ecuador finished third in Group E with four points. Germany had entered the match with two wins and had already qualified. The expanded 48-team format at the FIFA World Cup 2026 has 12 groups of four. It sends each group’s top two teams, plus the eight best third-place teams, to the Round of 32.
Plata winner seals Ecuador comeback
The result gave Ecuador its first World Cup knockout place since 2006. That tournament also included a group match against Germany, which Germany won 3-0. Ecuador later lost to England in the last 16 that year. The 2026 result marked Ecuador’s first win over Germany at a World Cup.
A crowd of more than 80,000 attended the match, with many fans wearing Ecuador colors. Ecuador protected the lead through stoppage time as Germany pushed for another goal. The victory followed Ecuador’s 1-0 loss to Ivory Coast and 0-0 draw with Curaçao earlier in the group stage.
Round of 32 place confirmed
Germany still advanced from Group E after earlier wins over Curaçao and Ivory Coast. Its group campaign included a 7-1 victory over Curaçao and a 2-1 win over Ivory Coast. Ivory Coast also advanced after beating Curaçao 2-0 in the group’s other final-round match.
Ecuador closed group play with one win, one draw and one loss. The team scored its first goals of the tournament against Germany and moved into the knockout field on four points. The win kept Ecuador in the 2026 World Cup and ended Germany’s perfect start to the group stage.