Germany Face Ivory Coast With Group E Top-2 Spot at Stake

3 articles · Updated · Al Jazeera English · Jun 20

Toronto hosts one of Group E’s pivotal second-round games on Saturday, with Germany and Ivory Coast both able to move closer to the Round of 32 after opening wins.
Germany arrive off a 7-1 rout of Curacao and a 10-match winning streak, but their defence remains under scrutiny after conceding in seven straight World Cup matches.
Ivory Coast beat Ecuador 1-0 with a last-gasp winner, ending Ecuador’s 19-match unbeaten run and putting the Elephants within reach of a first World Cup knockout berth.
A win would secure direct top-two qualification for Germany and could also send Ivory Coast through if results later go their way, making the Toronto result central to who tops Group E.
The stakes extend beyond advancement: Group winners get a third-placed qualifier in the new 32-team knockout round, while lower finishers face tougher paths.