2026 World Cup: Germany vs. Ivory Coast—Probable Lineups

Having both won their respective matches on the first day, Germany and Ivory Coast are looking to secure a victory on Saturday evening (Italian time) that would seal their qualification for the knockout stage early—which, under the new World Cup format, begins with the Round of 16. The team coached by Julian Nagelsmann and the one led by Emerse Faé will face off at BMO Field in Toronto, Canada, at 10 p.m. Italian time (4 p.m. local time). Paraguayan referee Juan Gabriel Benitez will officiate the match.

Germany is coming off a very comfortable 7-1 victory over Curaçao: after Nmecha’s goal and Comenencia’s temporary equalizer, the Mannschaft went on a scoring spree with goals from Schlotterbeck, Havertz (who scored twice, the first of his two goals coming on a penalty kick), Musiala, Brown, and Undav. It was an impressive display of strength, though the German team’s true caliber will likely be better gauged against the Ivorians, one of the most formidable national teams on the African continent.

On the first matchday, the Ivory Coast got the better of Ecuador, thanks to a goal by former Atalanta player Amad Diallo (who has been with Manchester United for three seasons), who in the 90th minute broke through one of the most impenetrable defenses of the recent qualifiers (only five goals conceded in eighteen matches). There are three “Italians” on the roster: Kossounou of Atalanta, Ndicka of Roma, and Bonny of Inter. Among the familiar faces are Franck Kessié (formerly of Cesena, Atalanta, and Milan) and Seko Fofana (who played for Udinese), both on a yellow card along with Doué.

Probable lineups

GERMANY (4-2-3-1): Neuer; Kimmich, Tah, Schlotterbeck, Brown; Pavlovic, Nmecha; Sané, Musiala, Wirtz; Havertz. Head Coach: Nagelsmann.

IVORY COAST (4-4-2): Y. Fofana (GK); Doué, Singo, Agbadou, Konan; Amad, Kessie, S. Fofana, Diomandé; Bonny, Touré. Head Coach: Faé.