Germany are through to the knockout stage of the 2026 FIFA World Cup after a dramatic 2-1 victory over Ivory Coast on Saturday — their first appearance in the last 16 since 2014.

The match looked destined for a different outcome until substitute Deniz Undav changed everything. Brought on in the second half, Undav wasted no time making his mark, netting twice to overturn the scoreline and send Germany marching on.

The result ends a painful spell of early World Cup exits for one of international football's most decorated nations. Germany had failed to progress beyond the group stage in both 2018 and 2022, making Saturday's win all the more significant for a squad eager to restore its standing on the global stage.

Ivory Coast, who gave Germany a genuine fight for long stretches of the contest, will be left to rue their inability to hold on. Despite taking the lead, they ultimately could not contain the impact of Undav off the bench.

For Germany, the turnaround stands as a statement of intent — and a reminder that even when a game appears to be slipping away, a single substitution can rewrite the story entirely.