Ivory Coast Edges Ecuador 1-0 on 90th-Minute Goal in World Cup Opener

Amad Diallo scored in the 90th minute to give Ivory Coast a 1-0 victory over Ecuador in their Group E World Cup opener on June 14, 2026. The Manchester United winger entered as a substitute in the 56th minute and broke the deadlock with a left-footed shot from just inside the penalty area that beat goalkeeper Hernán Galíndez. Wilfried Singo set up the goal with a run down the right side.

The match at Lincoln Financial Field drew an attendance of 68,274, with most of the crowd wearing yellow shirts in support of Ecuador. The teams combined to hit the crossbar three times. Elye Wahi struck the woodwork in the 52nd minute for Ivory Coast, while Ecuador's John Yeboah and Nilson Angulo hit the crossbar in the first half.

Ecuador created its best chance after halftime in the 68th minute when Gonzalo Plata fired from about 25 yards out, but Ivory Coast goalkeeper Yahia Fofana parried the shot away. Yan Diomande created several scoring chances for Ivory Coast, particularly down the right side, including the sequence that led to Wahi's near miss.

Ivory Coast captain Franck Kessié committed a hard foul in the fourth minute and received one of three yellow cards issued to his team in the first half for reckless challenges.

Jackson Porozo of Ecuador was cautioned in the 73rd minute. Ivory Coast is making its fourth World Cup appearance and first since 2014. The team went 8-0-2 in 10 qualifying matches without conceding a goal.

Ecuador is appearing in its fifth World Cup and saw its 19-game unbeaten streak end; its previous loss was a 1-0 defeat to Brazil on September 6, 2024. Ivory Coast will next face Germany on June 20. Ecuador will meet Curacao on the same day.

Germany defeated Curacao 7-1 earlier on June 14.