Côte d’Ivoire beats Ecuador 1‑0 in World Cup 2026 Group 5 opener

In the opening match of Group 5 at the 2026 FIFA World Cup, Côte d’Ivoire defeated Ecuador 1‑0 at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia. The lone goal came in the 90th minute when substitute Amad Diaby, a Manchester United forward, slotted home a low‑cross from Wilfried Singo.

The win put the Ivorian side on three points, moving them into second place behind Germany, while Ecuador remained winless alongside debutants Curaçao. The match was broadcast in the MENA region by beIN Sports Qatar, which holds the tournament rights there. The Ivorian supporters faced a visa‑issue setback that limited fan travel to the United States. Match statistics showed Ecuador holding 55 % possession and completing 285 passes to Côte d’Ivoire’s 233, but the Ivory Coast were more efficient with shots, converting one of six attempts while keeping a clean sheet.

The result gave Côte d’Ivoire a morale boost ahead of the next group games and keeps Ecuador in need of points from its remaining two fixtures to stay in contention for the knockout stage.