Ecuador 2 - 1 Germany | Match Summary

Tournament: 2026 FIFA World Cup™ (Group E Finale)

Venue: New York New Jersey Stadium

Status: Ecuador advances to the Round of 32 as one of the best third-placed teams; Germany advances as group winners.

Ecuador pulled off a thrilling 2–1 comeback victory over Germany during the final matchday of Group E. Despite conceding a goal in the opening minutes, La Tri fought back valiantly to secure a historic win and book their ticket to the knockout stage.

Match Timeline & Key Moments

• 2' — Germany Strike Early (0–1): Leroy Sané pounced on a quick pass from Florian Wirtz to score the second-fastest World Cup goal in German history, giving Germany an immediate lead.

• 9' — Ecuador's Instant Answer (1–1): Pedro Vite intercepted a ball in the German half and fed Nilson Angulo, who fired a brilliant low strike from outside the box past Manuel Neuer.

• 47' — Overturned German Penalty: Early in the second half, referee Tori Penso awarded Germany a penalty. However, a VAR review overturned the decision due to a preceding foul by Sané on Vite.

• 77' — Plata's Dramatic Winner (2–1): Off an Ecuador corner, Kevin Rodríguez flicked the ball at the near post. Gonzalo Plata reacted fastest, beating Neuer to poke the ball into the roof of the net.

Group E Final Standings

The result created a tight three-way tie at the top of the group, with Germany narrowly keeping the top seed on goal difference.

Official Highlight Reels

Watch the full match highlights to see the goals and pivotal VAR moments:

• FOX Sports Ecuador vs Germany Extended Highlights (15:50)

• FOX Sports Ecuador vs Germany Highlights (04:32)

• SBS Sport Ecuador v Germany: FIFA World Cup 2026 Highlights Opens in a new window (03:13)