Amad Diallo's 90th-minute strike ends Ecuador's 19-game unbeaten run at World Cup 2026

Amad Diallo steered a late winner past the Ecuador goalkeeper in the 90th minute to hand Ivory Coast a 1-0 victory in their World Cup 2026 opener at Philadelphia, ending Ecuador’s remarkable 19-game unbeaten run in the process.

The Manchester United forward, introduced as a substitute, collected a strong run and cross from Wilfried Singo before finding the bottom corner from the edge of the box. It was a decisive moment in a match that had been littered with woodwork — Ecuador struck the post or bar three times, while Ivory Coast also rattled the frame of the goal before Amad’s intervention.

Ecuador were the sharper side in the first half. Enner Valencia blazed over after Emmanuel Agbadou’s slip gifted him space in the penalty area, John Yeboah struck the bar from the edge of the box, and Alan Minda also hit the woodwork after a through ball from Pedro Vite. Valencia continued to threaten after the break, clipping the outside of the post following a neat one-two with Gonzalo Plata.

Ivory Coast grew into the game after half-time, with 19-year-old Yan Diomande — who has been linked with Liverpool — a persistent threat down the right flank. He twice fired high and wide after breaking into the box, and his cross was turned onto the crossbar by Elye Wahi. Yahia Fofana also kept out a long-range effort from Plata to preserve parity before Amad settled the contest.

“We had to stay focused. We knew it was going to be a difficult match because we know the Ecuadorian players — they’re physically very strong,” Amad said after the final whistle. “We came here to make history. We still have two more matches ahead of us, and we need to approach them with the same mentality and try to win them.”

Ecuador coach Sebastian Beccacece acknowledged his side’s effort despite the defeat. “The final result wasn’t what we wanted, but it’s just the beginning, and we have to keep working,” he said.