HIGHLIGHTS | FIFA World Cup 2026, Day 15: Ecuador upset Germany 2-1 to book last-32 spot; Ivory Coast reach knockouts for first time

The Netherlands beat Tunisia 3-1 to avoid a daunting last-32 clash with Brazil. Japan also advanced after a 1-1 draw with Sweden and will now face the five-time champions in the knockout stage.

Summary

Matchday 15 of the 2026 FIFA World Cup saw Ecuador upset Germany 2-1 to book their place in the last 32, while Nicolas Pepe struck twice as Ivory Coast beat Curacao 2-0 to reach the knockout stage for the first time in their history.

Elsewhere, Japan and Sweden played out a 1-1 draw as both advanced to the last 32 after the Netherlands beat Tunisia 3-1 to top Group F, avoiding a last-32 clash with Brazil and setting up a meeting with Morocco instead.

Australia also secured a place in the knockout rounds after battling to a goalless draw with Paraguay in Santa Clara to finish second in Group D. The result also kept Paraguay on course to qualify as one of the tournament's eight best third-placed teams.

Moriyasu vows Japan will play to win and top group against Sweden

Japan manager Hajime Moriyasu said Wednesday his side were focused solely on beating "a very strong" Sweden in their final group match and hoping that would be enough to finish top of Group F.

If Japan achieve a better result against the Swedes in Dallas on Thursday than the Netherlands do against already-eliminated Tunisia, they will advance in first place from the group and avoid Brazil in the last 32.

The group winners will face Morocco in Monterrey with the runners-up taking on the five-time World Cup champions in Houston the same day.

⚙️#FIFAWorldCup pic.twitter.com/s8ircYgPBp

— Svensk Fotboll (@svenskfotboll) June 23, 2026

Undav has 3 goals and 2 assists off bench and still can't gain spot in Germany's starting lineup

Deniz Undav has three goals and two assists in 69 minutes at the World Cup, averaging a goal contribution every 13.8 minutes for a rate topping Lionel Messi (37.4), Kylian Mbappé (48.8) and Erling Haaland (51.2).

And the 29-year-old striker still hasn't earned a place in Germany's starting lineup.

“If I weren’t happy, if I weren't content, I wouldn’t be here,” he said during a news conference Wednesday ahead of Germany's group stage finale against Ecuador. “I accept the role.”

He entered in the 64th minute of the opening 7-1 win over Curaçao and had a goal and two assists, then came on in the 60th minute against Ivory Coast and scored twice as Die Mannschaft rallied for a 2-1 victory.

Germany coach Nagelsmann apologized this spring for comments he made after Undav entered at the start of the second half in a March friendly against Ghana and scored a tiebreaking 88th-minute goal. Nagelsmann said Undav didn’t have the necessary stamina to be a starter and scored because his legs were fresh.

Germany's Deniz Undav (26) celebrates after scoring his second goal during the World Cup Group E soccer match between Germany and Ivory Coast in Toronto, Saturday, June 20, 2026(Photo | AP)

Another step towards Paraguay ⚽🏃‍♂️💨

🇵🇾 v 🇦🇺 - 25.6.26 - 7:00pm local
🇵🇾 v 🇦🇺 - 26.6.26 - 12:00pm AEST

📱💻📺 Live on SBS & SBS On Demand#Socceroos #FIFAWorldCup pic.twitter.com/uasv00YX8q

— CommBank Socceroos (@Socceroos) June 24, 2026

Christian Pulisic feels 'great,' hopes to play for US in final World Cup group game vs Turkey

Christian Pulisic says he feels "great" now after missing one World Cup match with a calf injury, and he hopes to play for the U.S. in its final group match against Turkey on Thursday night.

Pulisic played a dynamic first half in the Americans' historic 4-1 victory over Paraguay to open their home World Cup nearly two weeks ago, but the AC Milan midfielder came off at halftime after an injury from training stiffened up.

Pulisic said he nearly played in the U.S.' 2-0 victory over Australia last Friday but was held out to get closer to full fitness for the games ahead. He has returned to practice with his teammates this week after working out on his own last week before the trip to Seattle.

"I'm hoping to play a part in (the match against Turkey), for sure," Pulisic said before the U.S. training session Wednesday at Great Park. "I'll discuss that with my coaches and the medical staff. Obviously not a good chance I'll probably go and play 90 (minutes) right away after you come back and miss a game, but we'll see."

Foco total 🎯

La Albirroja ⚪️🔴 sigue preparándose con máxima concentración para el duelo ante Australia. 🔜

Detalles del entrenamiento: https://t.co/klMvtguJ9O

¡A seguir, juntos! 💪🏻#VamosParaguay 🇵🇾 pic.twitter.com/aSPatWRbkn

— Selección Paraguaya (@Albirroja) June 21, 2026

Germany vs Ecuador confirmed lineups

Confirmed line-ups: Germany

Baumann; Rudiger, Tah, Kimmich, Raum; Pavlovic, Musiala, Wirtz, Sane, Nmecha; Havertz

Confirmed line-ups: Ecuador

Galindez; Ordonez, Pacho, Hincapie; Franco, Caicedo, Vite; Plata, Valencia, Yeboah, Angulo

Ecuador upset Germany to reach World Cup last 32 as Curacao eliminated

Ecuador squeezed into the last 32 of the World Cup with an upset 2-1 victory over Germany on Thursday as Ivory Coast ended Curacao's fairytale campaign to seal their passage to the knockout rounds.

A nailbiting Group E game between Ecuador and group winners Germany at the MetLife Stadium was settled 13 minutes from time, when Gonzalo Plata jabbed home the winning goal from close range for the South Americans.

Plata's winner came after Ecuador had recovered after Germany took the lead from a controversial Leroy Sane goal after two minutes before equalising through Nilson Angulo.

The result means Ecuador finished Group E with four points, guaranteeing them a place in the last 32 as one of the eight best third-placed teams.

¡Locales otra vez!

Gracias a todos los ecuatorianos que se vinieron y a los que nos apoyan desde cualquier parte del mundo. Este triunfo es para ustedes. #UnSoloEcuador 🇪🇨 pic.twitter.com/thQIpmrznq

— La Tri 🇪🇨 (@LaTri) June 26, 2026

Pepe steers Ivory Coast into World Cup last 32 as Curacao go home

Nicolas Pepe scored twice as Ivory Coast beat Curacao 2-0 on Thursday to reach the World Cup knockout rounds for the first time ever and bring the tiny Caribbean country's run at the tournament to an end.

Former Arsenal forward Pepe, now playing in Spain for Villarreal, opened the scoring for the Elephants after just seven minutes in Philadelphia and netted again just after the hour mark.

Ivory Coast finish with six points in Group E with this victory following their opening 1-0 win over Ecuador and a 2-1 loss to Germany.

They therefore go through in second place behind Germany on head-to-head -- the Germans lost 2-1 to Ecuador in New Jersey at the same time.

𝙋𝙤𝙪𝙧 𝙡’𝙝𝙞𝙨𝙩𝙤𝙞𝙧𝙚 ! 😍🧡🤍💚#ElephantsEnMarche #TousDerriereLesElephants #CDM2026 pic.twitter.com/h18fqgVObC

— Équipe Nationale de Football Cote d’Ivoire 🇨🇮🐘 (@equipenatciv) June 26, 2026

Dutch march into World Cup knockouts as group winners

The Netherlands overcame sorry Tunisia 3-1 on Thursday to top World Cup Group F, avoiding a tricky encounter with Brazil in the last 32.

Ronald Koeman's men flew into a two-goal lead in soggy Kansas City thanks to some shoddy defending from the North African side.

First, Ellyes Skhiri sliced Denzel Dumfries' cross into his own net and minutes later Sunderland forward Brian Brobbey lashed home from close range.

That apparently sealed the deal for the Netherlands, whose orange-clad fans were entertaining themselves with Mexican waves midway through the first half at Arrowhead Stadium.

Tunisia pulled a goal back in the second half but the Dutch restored their two-goal lead courtesy of a Jan Paul van Hecke header shortly after the hour mark.

The Netherlands, who finished their group fixtures with seven points, pipped Japan to top spot in Group F, and will face Morocco in the second round in Monterrey on Monday.

ON FIRE! ❤️‍🔥#NothingLikeOranje #FIFAWorldCup #TUNNED pic.twitter.com/ctOXZrYdY3

— OnsOranje (@OnsOranje) June 25, 2026

Japan to play Brazil in World Cup knockouts after nervy Sweden draw

Japan will face Brazil in a World Cup last-32 clash after drawing 1-1 with Sweden on Thursday to finish runners-up behind the Netherlands in Group F.

In a game in front of 70,000 in Texas that sprang into life in the second half, Daizen Maeda gave Japan the lead soon after the break but Anthony Elanga levelled minutes later.

Japan, fancied as dark horses to go far in North America, were hanging on by the end as Alexander Isak and Elanga both went close in injury time.

Sweden qualify with four points as one of the best eight third-placed teams

Anthony Elanga 🪄#FIFAWorldCup pic.twitter.com/Ru1P8Fokw2

— Svensk Fotboll (@svenskfotboll) June 26, 2026

Turkey vs USA gets underway

Paraguay and Australia kick off their Group D encounter

Auston Trusty gives the USA an early lead

United States' Auston Trusty (6) reacts after scoring his team's first goal during the World Cup Group D soccer match between Turkey and the United States in Inglewood, Calif., near Los Angeles, Thursday, June 25, 2026. (Photo | AP)

Arda Guler strikes to bring Turkey level

Turkey's Arda Guler (8) kicks the ball past United States goalkeeper Matt Turner (1) to score his team's first goal during the World Cup Group D soccer match between Turkey and the United States on Thursday, June 25, 2026.(Photo | AP)

Orkun Kokcu doubles Turkey's lead over the USA

Sebastian Berhalter finds the equaliser for the USA just after the break

United States' Sebastian Berhalter (14) celebrates scoring his side's second goal against Turkey during the World Cup Group D soccer match in Inglewood, Calif., near Los Angeles, Thursday, June 25, 2026. (Photo | AP)

Kaan Ayhan strikes in stoppage time to put Turkey 3-2 up against the USA

Turkey's Kaan Ayhan (22) scores their third goal during the World Cup Group D soccer match between Turkey and the United States in Inglewood, Calif., near Los Angeles, Thursday, June 25, 2026.(Photo | AP)

Paraguay and Australia play out a goallesss draw

Turkey beat US 3-2 with last-gasp winner

Turkey beat a heavily changed United States 3-2 with a late Kaan Ayhan winner in an action-packed dead-rubber clash that gave the World Cup co-hosts their sternest test so far ahead of the knockout rounds.

Already crowned Group D winners, the US arrived in Los Angeles seeking to extend a perfect start with a third win, but with more than an eye on next Wednesday's last-32 meeting against Bosnia-Herzegovina.

For Turkey, already eliminated and without even a goal after disastrous losses to Paraguay and Australia, the only objective was to restore some pride.

Australia draw with Paraguay to clinch World Cup last 32 place

Australia qualified for the World Cup knockout rounds on Thursday after battling to a 0-0 draw with Paraguay in Santa Clara to claim second place in Group D.

The Socceroos, who defeated Turkey in their opening match before losing to the United States, were never seriously threatened on their way to securing a point to reach the last 32 at the Levi’s Stadium in northern California.

It marks only the third time that Australia have advanced beyond the group stage in seven appearances at the World Cup.

The draw also left Paraguay firmly on course for the knockout rounds as one of the eight best third-placed teams in the group stage.

🇦🇺 Australia have qualified for the Round of 32!#FIFAWorldCup

— FIFA World Cup (@FIFAWorldCup) June 26, 2026