German Perfection Spoiled: Ecuador Halt Die Mannschaft Dominance To Secure Knockout Berth
Ecuador vs Germany Match Gallery, FIFA World Cup 2026: La Tri registered a historic Die Mannschaft scalp to qualify for the Round of 32 in New Jersey on Thursday (June 25). Trailing inside two minutes to Leroy Sane's opener, they responded brilliantly when Nilson Angulo equalized in the 9th minute with a brilliant strike. The frantic match took a dramatic turn when VAR overturned a second-half German penalty. Ecuador found the ultimate winner in the 77th minute when Gonzalo Plata punished Manuel Neuer for a misjudgment in reading a corner. Sebastian Beccacece's men thus became the first South American team ever to defeat Germany in a World Cup group stage. Simultaneously in Group E, Nicolas Pepe hit a brace to lead Cote d'Ivoire to a 2-0 victory over Curacao. The final results mean Germany still finish top and Ivory Coast second, while Ecuador also advance as one of the best third-placed teams. See the best photos from the ECU vs GER football match here:
Fans cheer before the World Cup Group E soccer match between Ecuador and Germany in East Rutherford, N.J., near New York, Thursday, June 25, 2026. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)
A German fan looks at his cellphone before the World Cup Group E soccer match between Ecuador and Germany in East Rutherford, N.J., near New York, Friday, June 26, 2026. (AP Photo/Steve Luciano)
Fans of Ecuador cheer prior to the World Cup Group E soccer match between Germany and Ecuador in East Rutherford, N.J., near New York, Thursday, June 25, 2026. (AP Photo/Yuki Iwamura)
Germany fans pack the stands before the World Cup Group E soccer match against Ecuador in East Rutherford, N.J., near New York, Thursday, June 25, 2026. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)
A fan of Ecuador poses for photos before the World Cup Group E soccer match between Ecuador and Germany in East Rutherford, N.J., near New York, Thursday, June 25, 2026. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)
Germany players pose for a team photo before the World Cup Group E soccer match between Ecuador and Germany in East Rutherford, N.J., near New York, Thursday, June 25, 2026. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)
Ecuador team pose for a group photo before the World Cup Group E soccer match against Germany in East Rutherford, N.J., near New York, Thursday, June 25, 2026. (AP Photo/Yuki Iwamura)
Referees pose for photos before the World Cup Group E soccer match between Ecuador and Germany in East Rutherford, N.J., near New York, Thursday, June 25, 2026. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)
Germany's Leroy Sane celebrates scoring his side's opening goal during the World Cup Group E soccer match between Ecuador and Germany in East Rutherford, N.J., near New York, Thursday, June 25, 2026. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)
Germany's David Raum falls during the World Cup Group E soccer match against Ecuador in East Rutherford, N.J., near New York, Thursday, June 25, 2026. (AP Photo/Yuki Iwamura)
Germany goalkeeper Manuel Neuer fails to save a shot by Ecuador's Nilson Angulo to score this side's first goal during the World Cup Group E soccer match between Ecuador and Germany in East Rutherford, N.J., near New York, Thursday, June 25, 2026. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)
Ecuador's Nilson Angulo, left, celebrates scoring his side's first goal during the World Cup Group E soccer match between Ecuador and Germany in East Rutherford, N.J., near New York, Thursday, June 25, 2026. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)
Germany's Felix Nmecha heads the ball during the World Cup Group E soccer match between Ecuador and Germany in East Rutherford, N.J., near New York, Thursday, June 25, 2026. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)
Germany's Aleksandar Pavlovic (5) and Ecuador's Pedro Vite battle for the ball during the World Cup Group E soccer match in East Rutherford, N.J., near New York, Thursday, June 25, 2026. (AP Photo/Yuki Iwamura)
Referee Tori Penso, of the United States, gestures during the World Cup Group E soccer match between Ecuador and Germany in East Rutherford, N.J., near New York, Friday, June 26, 2026. (AP Photo/Steve Luciano)
A screen announces a hydration break during the World Cup Group E soccer match between Ecuador and Germany in East Rutherford, N.J., near New York, Thursday, June 25, 2026. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)
Germany's David Raum controls the ball during the World Cup Group E soccer match against Ecuador in East Rutherford, N.J., near New York, Thursday, June 25, 2026. (AP Photo/Yuki Iwamura)
Germany's Jamal Musiala (10) kicks the ball as Ecuador's Joel Ordonez falls during the World Cup Group E soccer match in East Rutherford, N.J., near New York, Thursday, June 25, 2026. (AP Photo/Yuki Iwamura)
Germany's Aleksandar Pavlovic (5) and Ecuador's Moises Caicedo battle for the ball during the World Cup Group E soccer match in East Rutherford, N.J., near New York, Thursday, June 25, 2026. (AP Photo/Yuki Iwamura)
Referee Tori Penso, of the United States, issues a yellow card to Germany's Aleksandar Pavlovic (5) during the World Cup Group E soccer match between Ecuador and Germany in East Rutherford, N.J., near New York, Thursday, June 25, 2026. (AP Photo/Steve Luciano)
Ecuador's Enner Valencia, top, and Germany's Jonathan Tah vie for the ball during the World Cup Group E soccer match between Ecuador and Germany in East Rutherford, N.J., near New York, Thursday, June 25, 2026. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)
Ecuador's Piero Hincapie (3) and Germany's Leroy Sane (19) battle near the goal during the World Cup Group E soccer match in East Rutherford, N.J., near New York, Thursday, June 25, 2026. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)
Referee Tori Penso, center, assistant referees Kathryn Nesbitt, right, and Brooke Mayo, prepare the World Cup Group E soccer match between Ecuador and Germany in East Rutherford, N.J., near New York, Thursday, June 25, 2026. (AP Photo/Steve Luciano)
Ecuador's Pedro Vite grimaces in pain during the World Cup Group E soccer match between Germany and Ecuador in East Rutherford, N.J., near New York, Thursday, June 25, 2026. (AP Photo/Yuki Iwamura)
Referee Tori Penso of the United States talks to Ecuador's Alan Franco during the World Cup Group E soccer match between Germany and Ecuador in East Rutherford, N.J., near New York, Thursday, June 25, 2026. (AP Photo/Yuki Iwamura)
Ecuador's Piero Hincapie (3) and Germany's Joshua Kimmich battle for the ball during the World Cup Group E soccer match in East Rutherford, N.J., near New York, Thursday, June 25, 2026. (AP Photo/Yuki Iwamura)
Ecuador's Piero Hincapie (3) reacts as he is issued a yellow card during the World Cup Group E soccer match against Germany in East Rutherford, N.J., near New York, Thursday, June 25, 2026. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)
Ecuador players protest to referee Tori Penso during the World Cup Group E soccer match between Ecuador and Germany in East Rutherford, N.J., near New York, Thursday, June 25, 2026. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)
Ecuador head coach Sebastian Beccacece calls out from the bench during the World Cup Group E soccer match against Germany in East Rutherford, N.J., near New York, Thursday, June 25, 2026. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)
Germany's Kai Havertz (7) appeals for a penalty during the World Cup Group E soccer match against Ecuador in East Rutherford, N.J., near New York, Thursday, June 25, 2026. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)
Germany's Antonio Ruediger, left, and Ecuador's Alan Franco vie for the ball during the World Cup Group E soccer match between Ecuador and Germany in East Rutherford, N.J., near New York, Thursday, June 25, 2026. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)
Ecuador's Joel Ordonez (4) gets tripped up by Germany's David Raum, center, as Germany's Florian Wirtz (17) looks on during the second half of a World Cup Group E soccer match in East Rutherford, N.J., near New York, Thursday, June 25, 2026. (AP Photo/Pamela Smith)
Ecuador's Gonzalo Plata (19) scores a go-ahead goal on Germany goalkeeper Manuel Neuer during the World Cup Group E soccer match in East Rutherford, N.J., near New York, Thursday, June 25, 2026. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)
Ecuador's Gonzalo Plata (19) celebrates scoring his side's second goal against Germany during the World Cup Group E soccer match in East Rutherford, N.J., near New York, Thursday, June 25, 2026. (AP Photo/Yuki Iwamura)
Ecuador's Gonzalo Plata, left, celebrates scoring his side's 2nd goal during the World Cup Group E soccer match between Ecuador and Germany in East Rutherford, N.J., near New York, Thursday, June 25, 2026. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)
Ecuador's Kevin Rodriguez, left, and Germany's Malick Thiaw battle for the ball during the World Cup Group E soccer match in East Rutherford, N.J., near New York, Thursday, June 25, 2026. (AP Photo/Yuki Iwamura)
A screen displays the number of fans who attended every match during the World Cup Group E soccer match between Ecuador and Germany in East Rutherford, N.J., near New York, Thursday, June 25, 2026. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)
Ecuador head coach Sebastian Beccacece talks to his players during the hydration break of the World Cup Group E soccer match against Germany in East Rutherford, N.J., near New York, Thursday, June 25, 2026. (AP Photo/Yuki Iwamura)
Germany's Florian Wirtz (17) and Ecuador's Piero Hincapie (3) collide during the first half of a World Cup Group E soccer match in East Rutherford, N.J., near New York, Thursday, June 25, 2026. (AP Photo/Pamela Smith)
Fans of Ecuador display a flag during the World Cup Group E soccer match between Ecuador and Germany in East Rutherford, N.J., near New York, Thursday, June 25, 2026. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)
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