Deniz Undav Matches World Cup Record for Impact Off the Bench

Deniz Undav Sets a New Benchmark

According to Главком: Germany striker Deniz Undav, who plays for VfB Stuttgart, has equaled a historic World Cup record. He matched Roger Milla's tally for goal contributions made after coming on as a substitute. Undav reached five goal contributions at the 2026 World Cup, a feat he accomplished by scoring a brace in Germany's 2-1 victory over Ivory Coast. Coming onto the pitch in the 60th minute, he became the decisive factor in that win.

In the previous group match against Curaçao, Undav also entered the game from the bench, scoring once and providing two assists. For context, Roger Milla achieved the same number of substitute contributions at the 1990 World Cup. Germany's final group-stage match is scheduled for June 25, where they will face Ecuador.

Highlights from the 2026 World Cup

The 2026 FIFA World Cup has already delivered plenty of memorable moments. Japan, for instance, secured a victory over Tunisia, with forward Ueda netting a brace. Midfielder Kamada and winger Junya Ito also found the back of the net for Japan. Meanwhile, Curaçao, after losing to Germany in their opening match, earned their first-ever World Cup points by drawing with Ecuador.

In Ukraine, the 2026 World Cup is being broadcast by the media service Megogo, the tournament's official rights holder. Megogo will stream all matches exclusively on its platform and has announced over 90 pre- and post-match studio shows. All games will be available through the 'Sport' and Megopack subscriptions, with some matches viewable for free on the 'Megogo Sport' channel via T2 digital broadcasting and cable networks.

Below is the schedule for select 2026 World Cup matches (times are Kyiv local):

• 2026 World Cup, Group A:
  • June 11, 22:00: Mexico vs. South Africa
  • June 12, 05:00: South Korea vs. Czech Republic
  • June 18, 19:00: Czech Republic vs. South Africa
  • June 19, 04:00: Mexico vs. South Korea
  • June 25, 04:00: Czech Republic vs. Mexico
  • June 25, 04:00: South Africa vs. South Korea
• 2026 World Cup, Group B:
  • June 12, 22:00: Canada vs. Bosnia and Herzegovina
  • June 13, 22:00: Qatar vs. Switzerland
  • June 18, 22:00: Switzerland vs. Bosnia and Herzegovina
  • June 19, 01:00: Canada vs. Qatar
  • June 24, 22:00: Switzerland vs. Canada
  • June 24, 22:00: Bosnia and Herzegovina vs. Qatar
• 2026 World Cup, Group E:
  • June 14, 20:00: Germany vs. Curaçao
  • June 15, 02:00: Ivory Coast vs. Ecuador
  • June 20, 23:00: Germany vs. Ivory Coast
  • June 21, 03:00: Ecuador vs. Curaçao
  • June 25, 23:00: Curaçao vs. Ivory Coast
  • June 25, 23:00: Ecuador vs. Germany

Undav's record highlights the critical role substitutes can play at the highest level of competition. As Germany continues its group-stage campaign, the team has a chance to strengthen its standing in upcoming matches. The 2026 World Cup also underscores growing competitiveness, with lesser-known teams like Curaçao surprising observers by earning their first-ever points. This reflects the unpredictability and evolving dynamics of modern football.

In the earlier stages of the tournament, Germany showcased their dominance by achieving a stunning victory over Curaçao, winning 7-1 in their opening match. This performance set the tone for their campaign, highlighting the team's offensive prowess and depth. To explore the details of that memorable match and understand how it paved the way for players like Undav to shine, visit Germany's impressive opening match against Curaçao.