Ecuador defeated Germany 2-1 at MetLife Stadium, marking only their second advancement to the knockout stage in World Cup history, since 2006.
Leroy Sane's goal in the 2nd minute put Germany ahead. However, Nilson Angulo equalized just seven minutes later, transforming the match into a competitive affair. A late strike by Plata in the 77th minute sealed the victory for Ecuador.
Prior to the match, Germany had already qualified for the next round. Ecuador moved forward as one of the highest-ranked third-place teams.
The match attracted significant attention on Polymarket, with trading volumes reaching $49.64 million, indicating strong interest in prediction markets surrounding the World Cup. This could set a precedent for future adoption, similar to the impact of the 2024 US presidential election on Polymarket.
Chiliz, a blockchain company, initiated a token burn program to align fan token scarcity with team performance, although neither team currently has dedicated fan tokens available. The substantial trading volume illustrates a gap in demand for crypto-engagement in major sporting events.