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Ecuador's Alan Franco and Ivory Coast's Singo battle for the ball during the 2026 FIFA World Cup Group E soccer match between Ivory Coast and Ecuador at Philadelphia Stadium. Emmanuele Mastrodonato/IPA via ZUMA Press/dpa
Ivory Coast celebrated their return to the World Cup with a last-gasp 1-0 win in their tournament opener against Ecuador on Sunday.
Ecuador hit the post twice in the first half and it looked like the game would end up in the first goalless draw of the competition.
But Ivory Coast were still running strong in the final minutes and Amand Diallo had the last word with a superb finish in the 90th minute.
Ecuador were at first the closest to scoring, hitting the bar for the first time in the 23rd minute, as Alan Minda unleashed a shot that goalkeeper Yahia Fofana could only watch in horror.
Just seven minutes later, Mina made a well-timed run and beat the goalkeeper, but was denied by the crossbar again.
Ivory Coast are playing at a World Cup for the first time since Brazil 2014.
With the win, they are tied on three points with Germany, but the Germans top Group E on a comfortable goal difference after a 7-1 thrashing of debutants Curaçao.
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Ivory Coast's Ghislain Konanthe in action during the 2026 FIFA World Cup Group E soccer match between Ivory Coast and Ecuador at Philadelphia Stadium. Kyle Rodden/CSM via ZUMA Press Wire/dpa
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