World Cup 2026: Who is Deniz Undav? German striker with Kurdish roots scores twice against Ivory Coast (opens original article in a new tab)

Germany advanced to the World Cup last 32 with a 2-1 win over Ivory Coast, thanks to Deniz Undav's two goals, including a late winner. Undav, a striker with Kurdish Yazidi roots, became the tournament's joint top-scorer after scoring all three of his goals from the bench. He overcame early setbacks, including being rejected by Werder Bremen and working full-time in a factory while playing semi-professional football.

• Deniz Undav scored twice for Germany in a 2-1 win over Ivory Coast to advance to the World Cup last 32
• Undav, a German striker with Kurdish Yazidi heritage, became the tournament's joint top-scorer with three goals
• Germany's coach Julian Nagelsmann emphasized focusing on the next step despite the victory
• Undav overcame early rejections and worked full-time in a factory while playing semi-professional football