19 June 2026, USA, Winston-Salem: Soccer, 2026 World Cup, National Team, Germany, final training session before the second World Cup group stage match against Ivory Coast, at Spry Stadium, Germany (l-r), Nadiem Amiri, Antonio Rüdiger, Felix Nmecha, Malick Thiaw, and Waldemar Anton in training. (Photo by FEDERICO GAMBARINI / DPA / dpa Picture-Alliance via AFP)
High-scoring Germany face a powerful Ivory Coast side at the World Cup on Saturday, with the winner guaranteed a place in the last 32, while Sweden can also book their ticket.
Those three nations can join co-hosts the United States and Mexico, who are already through.
Germany thrashed debutants Curacao 7-1 in their opener and would be confirmed as Group E winners if they defeat Ivory Coast in Toronto and Ecuador fails to beat Curacao in Kansas City.
Progressing to the knockout round would be a relief for the Germans who astonishingly have failed to reach that stage since they won their fourth World Cup in Brazil in 2014.
