Amad Diallo hit a 90th-minute winner to give Ivory Coast a dramatic 1-0 victory over Ecuador, the standout moment on a high-scoring fourth day of the 2026 World Cup that also saw Germany thrash Curaçao 7-1, Sweden rout Tunisia 5-1, and Japan snatch a late 2-2 draw from the Netherlands.
In Philadelphia, Ecuador dominated for long stretches and hit the woodwork three times — twice in the first half through John Yeboah and Alan Minda, and again after the breakthrough veteran Enner Valencia — but could not find a goal. Ivory Coast made the most of its chance at the death, with Manchester United winger Diallo finishing calmly into the bottom corner to deliver the West African side’s first World Cup victory in 12 years.
The day’s most entertaining match came in Dallas, where Japan rescued a point against the Netherlands. The Dutch led 2-1 during a frantic spell that produced three goals in 13 minutes early in the second half, but Daichi Kamada equalized in the 88th minute — the latest goal in Japan’s World Cup history — to finish 2-2.
In Houston, Germany made a statement against World Cup debutants Curaçao. The Caribbean side briefly drew level at 1-1 through Livano Comenencia, but Julian Nagelsmann’s four-time champions responded with six unanswered goals. Kai Havertz scored twice, with Felix Nmecha, Nico Schlotterbeck, Jamal Musiala and two substitutes also on the scoresheet. The six-goal margin tied Germany’s second-largest victory in a World Cup match.
Sweden, meanwhile, opened with a commanding 5-1 win over Tunisia in Monterrey. Yasin Ayari scored twice and forwards Viktor Gyökeres and Alexander Isak also found the net. It was the first time since the 1938 tournament that Sweden had scored five goals in a World Cup game, giving the Swedes the early lead in Group F.
The action continues today, with European champions Spain opening their campaign against Cape Verde as Groups G and H begin.
