Ecuador secures World Cup last 32 spot with victory over Germany

By Arjun Nair / 26.06.2026

By Arjun Nair — 26 June 2026 — 4 min read

Ecuador defeated Germany 2-1, securing their progression to the World Cup knockout phase. The victory, achieved on Thursday, marks the second time Ecuador has reached this stage of the tournament. The team, coached by Sebastián Beccacece, had to win their final group match to advance.

The match saw Ecuador overcome an early deficit after Germany scored in the second minute. Despite this setback, La Tri mounted a comeback with goals from Nilson Angulo and Gonzalo Plata, leading to widespread celebrations among their supporters.

Early German Lead and Ecuadorian Response

The match began with an immediate impact from Germany. In the second minute, Aleksandar Pavlovic initiated an attack, finding Florian Wirtz in the box. Wirtz then set up Leroy Sané, who scored the opening goal of the tournament for himself, placing the ball into the bottom corner. There were protests regarding Pavlovic’s challenge earlier in the play, but these were ultimately dismissed.

However, Ecuadorian fans, who had been chanting “Sí, se puede” (yes, we can) from the start, were not deterred. Their encouragement soon turned to jubilation as Ecuador found an equaliser. Nilson Angulo, one of two new players in Beccacece’s starting lineup, struck the ball from the edge of the box into Manuel Neuer’s far corner. The goal was attributed to errors by the two German players who had created their team’s opener: Wirtz lost possession to Pedro Vite, who provided the assist, and Pavlovic allowed the ball to pass through his legs.

Ecuador continued to press, particularly down the wings with players like Alan Franco and Angulo, forcing Neuer to make several saves. It took approximately 15 minutes for a seemingly shaken Germany to pose another threat, with Kai Havertz’s header going straight to Hernán Galíndez.

Second Half Dynamics and Decisive Goal

After a hydration break, Germany attempted to regain control of the match, but Galíndez remained largely untroubled. Ecuador’s defense, which included several players who had participated in Champions League finals, appeared to have found its rhythm, frustrating their opponents. As half-time approached, the “sí se puede” chants grew louder, reflecting Ecuador’s intense and ambitious play against the four-time champions, led by Moisés Caicedo. Despite winning the ball in midfield multiple times, Ecuador’s counterattacks were often thwarted by poor decision-making or last-ditch defensive blocks.

The second half nearly started with a penalty for Germany when Joel Ordóñez challenged Havertz. However, a video replay showed that Sané had fouled Vite earlier in the sequence, and the penalty decision was overturned. John Yeboah of Venezia was a central figure for Ecuador, frequently weaving through the Germany midfield, though few of his efforts resulted in clear chances. His play, however, helped his teammates maintain their high-intensity approach against the group leaders.

Germany’s threats were minimal, aside from the play that led to the penalty shout. Their top scorer, Deniz Undav, was introduced around the hour mark. Undav had previously stated his acceptance of a supersub role, but his entry suggested a desire to influence the match from an earlier stage.

Following the second hydration break, Ecuador’s confidence grew, having successfully contained Germany. Their best opportunity of the second half came from a defensive mix-up between Jonathan Tah and Neuer, which allowed Kevin Rodríguez to gain possession. He then found Plata in the middle, whose shot narrowly missed the top corner.

Minutes later, Plata redeemed himself. Rodríguez was once again involved, flicking on a corner that he had earned after his shot was blocked by Angelo Stiller. The ball found its way to Plata again, who guided it past Neuer with the outside of his boot, securing Ecuador’s lead.

After taking the lead, Ecuador maintained their momentum, though they eventually focused on defending their advantage. Another chance arose for Ángelo Preciado, but Neuer was well-positioned to cover it. David Raum’s deliveries from the left flank were Germany’s primary creative outlet, but Ecuador’s defense remained resolute through the final moments. As Plata took the ball into the corner deep into stoppage time, celebrations were already visible among the Ecuadorian supporters in the stadium.

Impact of the Victory

The victory was particularly significant for coach Sebastián Beccacece, who celebrated enthusiastically with his family in the stands. Beccacece had been under scrutiny from Ecuadorian fans and media after La Tri did not carry their 19-match unbeaten run into the tournament. He had acknowledged before the game that there might be some dissatisfaction with him. The win against Germany, however, secured Ecuador’s place in the last 32 as one of the eight best third-placed teams.

The result means Ecuador progressed from Group E, while Ivory Coast also advanced after beating Curacao 2-0, finishing second in the group behind Germany.

The chant of “Sí, se pudo” (yes, we could) replaced the earlier “Sí, se puede” among Ecuadorian supporters after the final whistle on Thursday.

Source: theguardian.com