Germany will begin their World Cup campaign against the smallest population ever to qualify, Curacao, in an intriguing Group E completed by Ecuador, who finished second in South American qualifying, and 2023 Afcon champions Ivory Coast.
Germany arrive with optimism under the guidance of Julian Nagelsmann, and the country expects much more than their past two group-stage exits. But they face stiff competition from Ecuador’s golden generation, built around Chelsea midfielder Moises Caicedo, as well as a talented Ivory Coast side who could spring a surprise.
Curacao are the minnows of the group but Dick Advocaat has built a solid defensive unit and a team cohesion that has seen them rival bigger nations, and the expanded format of this 2026 World Cup gives every side hope of qualifying for the knockout stages, with eight third-placed sides progressing from the 12 groups.
Group E fixtures
(all times BST)
14 June, 6pm: Germany 7-1 Curacao – NRG Stadium, Houston
15 June, 12am: Ivory Coast 1-0 Ecuador – Lincoln Financial Field, Philadelphia
20 June, 9pm: Germany v Ivory Coast – BMO Field, Toronto
21 June, 1am: Ecuador v Curacao – Arrowhead Stadium, Kansas City
25 June, 9pm: Ecuador v Germany – MetLife Stadium, New Jersey
25 June, 9pm: Curacao v Ivory Coast – Lincoln Financial Field, Philadelphia
After disappointing group-stage exits in Russia and Qatar, Germany are showing signs they can go much further this time under Julian Nagelsmann. Their last World Cup knockout game was the 2014 final in Rio de Janeiro, when Mario Gotze scored the winner in extra time. That seems a lifetime ago, but the Germans qualified confidently for the 2026 World Cup and should have no problem progressing to the last 32.
The question for Nagelsmann is exactly how he sets up his team, with plenty of attacking options to choose from. Kai Havertz and Nick Woltemade will compete to lead the line, and behind them he has a raft of attacking players including Florian Wirtz, Leroy Sane, Serge Gnabry, Jamal Musiala and teenager Lennart Karl.
Factor in the experience and quality of Antonio Rudiger, Jonathan Tah, Leon Goretzka and captain Joshua Kimmich through the spine of the side, and Germany begin to look like a team who can go far in North America this summer.
Squad:
Goalkeepers: Oliver Baumann (Hoffenheim), Manuel Neuer (Bayern Munich), Alexander Nubel (Stuttgart)
Defenders: Joshua Kimmich (Bayern Munich), Nico Schlotterbeck (Borussia Dortmund), Nathaniel Brown (Eintracht Frankfurt), David Raum (Leipzig), Waldemar Anton (Borussia Dortmund), Antonio Rudiger (Real Madrid), Malick Thiaw (Newcastle), Jonathan Tah (Bayern Munich)
Midfielders: Jamal Musiala (Bayern Munich), Jamie Leweling (Stuttgart), Aleksandar Pavlovic (Bayern Munich), Nadiem Amiri (Mainz), Felix Nmecha (Borussia Dortmund), Angelo Stiller (Stuttgart), Leon Goretzka (Bayern Munich), Pascal Gross (Brighton)
Forwards: Kai Havertz (Arsenal), Deniz Undav (Stuttgart), Maximilian Beier (Borussia Dortmund), Florian Wirtz (Liverpool), Nick Woltemade (Newcastle), Lennart Karl (Bayern Munich), Leroy Sane (Galatasaray)
Coach: Julian Nagelsmann
Star player – Florian Wirtz, Liverpool: A two-goal burst against Switzerland in March was a reminder that for all Wirtz’s struggles at the start of the season with Liverpool, he remains a supreme attacking threat.
Breakout talent – Lennart Karl, Bayern Munich: The 18-year-old has been impressive for Bayern Munich this season and could well force himself into Germany’s starting XI as the tournament progresses.
Fifa ranking: 10.
Odds to win the World Cup: 16/1, latest odds via the best betting sites UK.
It is something of a cliche in international football – and often a curse – but Ecuador have their own golden generation right now and no one will fancy taking on this fast and physical side managed by Argentine coach Sebastian Beccacece. They conceded only five goals in 18 World Cup qualifying games, finishing second in the standings ahead of Brazil, Uruguay and Colombia, and behind only Argentina.
Ecuador have talented players posted all over Europe, including Arsenal’s Piero Hincapie, Pervis Estupinan at AC Milan, PSG defender Willian Pacho and Union SG forward Kevin Rodriguez. But their key is undoubtedly Moises Caicedo, and if the Chelsea midfielder brings his destructive best to the World Cup, Ecuador might justify their tag as dark horses.
Beccacece is a protege of Jorge Sampaoli and was his assistant when Chile won the Copa America in 2015, before striking out on his own. He has established a high-pressing, hard-working style in charge of Ecuador and his strategy has brought results, with only one defeat after 18 games in charge and a defensive strength that looks perfect for knockout football.
They should reach the latter stages, and their match with Germany in New Jersey at the end of the group stage could be a shootout for top spot.
Squad:
Goalkeepers: Hernan Galindez (Huracan), Moises Ramirez (Kifisia), Gonzalo Valle (LDU Quito).
Defenders: Piero Hincapie (Arsenal), Willian Pacho (Paris St-Germain), Pervis Estupinan (AC Milan), Felix Torres (Internacional), Joel Ordonez (Club Brugge), Jackson Porozo (Tijuana), Angelo Preciado (Atletico Mineiro)
Midfielders: Moises Caicedo (Chelsea), Alan Franco (Atletico Mineiro), Kendry Paez (River Plate), Pedro Vite (UNAM), Jordy Alcivar (Independiente del Valle), Denil Castillo (Midtjylland), Yaimar Medina (Genk)
Forwards: Enner Valencia (Pachuca), Kevin Rodriguez (Union Saint-Gilloise), Jordy Caicedo (Huracan), Nilson Angulo (Sunderland), Anthony Valencia (Antwerp), Jeremy Arevalo (Stuttgart)
Coach: Sebastian Beccacece
Star player – Moises Caicedo, Chelsea: The 24-year-old has developed into one of the best all-round midfielders in the Premier League. There had been concerns he would be suspended for Ecuador’s opening game against Ivory Coast, but Fifa has now cleared all bans for the group stages.
Breakout talent – Kendry Paez, River Plate: The 19-year-old, who already has 24 caps for his country, was snapped up by Chelsea last summer before spending time on loan at Strasbourg and River Plate this season. His dribbling will be an important outlet for Ecuador.
Fifa ranking: 23.
Odds to win the World Cup: 100/1.
Ivory Coast
Twelve years after Ivory Coast last qualified for the World Cup, they’re back, aiming to escape their group for the first time after finishing third in each tournament between 2006 and 2014. A 93rd minute penalty by Greece’s Georgis Samaras knocked out the Ivorians in Brazil, and they have not returned to a World Cup since.
In those days, players like Didier Drogba, Yaya Toure and Salamon Kalou gave Ivory Coast the quality to push European and South American giants close. Now a talented new generation can take the country to the knockout rounds, and both Germany and Ecuador will be wary of Les Elephants.
Emerse Fae was memorably parachuted into the job during the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations, leading the team to surprise continental glory. His record of only five defeats in 31 games suggests it was no fluke, and March friendly wins over South Korea (in Milton Keynes, obviously) and Scotland pointed to a team full of confidence.
Perhaps Fae’s most difficult task is deciding who to leave on the bench. Nicolas Pepe and Amad Diallo are options on the right wing; the exciting Yan Diomande and Simon Adingra will compete on the left; Oumar Diakite, Evann Guessand and Sebastien Haller can lead the line. Whoever he chooses, Ivory Coast will be typically fast, powerful and technically gifted, with plenty in reserve should Fae need to change a game.
Squad:
Goalkeepers: Yahia Fofana (Rizespor), Mohamed Kone (Charleroi), Alban Lafont (Panathinaikos)
Defenders: Emmanuel Agbadou (Wolves), Christopher Operi (Istanbul Basaksehir), Ousmane Diomande (Sporting), Guela Doue (Strasbourg), Ghislain Konan (Gil Vicente), Odilon Kossonou (Atalanta), Evan Ndicka (Roma), Wilfried Singo (Galatasaray)
Midfielders: Seko Fofana (Rennes), Parfait Guiagon (Charleroi), Franck Kessie (Al Ahli), Christ Oulai (Trabzonspor), Ibrahim Sangare (Nottingham Forest), Jean-Michael Seri (Maribor)
Forwards: Simon Adingra (Monaco), Ange-Yoan Bonny (Inter Milan), Amad Diallo (Manchester United), Oumar Diakite (Cercle Brugge), Yan Diomande (RB Leipzig), Evann Guessand (Aston Villa), Nicolas Pepe (Villarreal), Bazoumana Toure (Hoffenheim), Elye Wahi (Nice)
Coach: Emerse Fae
Star player – Ousmane Diomande, Sporting: The Sporting centre-back is the complete defender, with pace, strength and the skill to break lines and carry the ball himself.
Breakout talent – Yan Diomande, RB Leipzig: The 19-year-old might already be too good for the ‘breakout’ tag, given he has performed so impressively in the Bundesliga and the Africa Cup of Nations this season. But a big World Cup can elevate him to another level, and big clubs across Europe will be watching.
Fifa ranking: 34.
Odds to win the World Cup: 300/1.
The smallest nation ever to qualify for the World Cup has a population of 150,000, about the same size as Northampton. But Curacao punched above their weight in qualifying, going unbeaten throughout to book themselves a spot in North America.
Curacao has taken advantage of its close relationship with the Netherlands since gaining independence from the Dutch in 2010, with many of their players developing in Eredevisie academies. Players like Lenadro Bacuna and Tahith Chong could have qualified for the Netherlands but were persuaded to commit their allegiance to the Caribbean island.
Legendary Dutch coach Dick Advocaat steered Curacao through qualification before quitting the job to spend time with his unwell daughter. But on the eve of the tournament, the 78-year-old returned, with his brief replacement Fred Rutten resigning amid discontent among some players and sponsors about Advocaat’s departure. He will become the oldest man to manage at a World Cup.
They are the underdogs in Group E, and their goal is to pinch a shock result against either Germany or Ecuador, and set up a showdown with Ivory Coast to sneak through to the knockout rounds.
Squad:
Goalkeepers: Tyrick Bodak (SC Telstar), Trevor Doornbusch (VVV-Venlo), Eloy Room (Miami FC)
Defenders: Riechedly Bazoer (Konyaspor), Joshua Brenet (Kayserispor), Roshon Van Eijma (RKC Waalwijk), Sherel Floranus (PEC Zwolle), Deveron Fonville (NEC Nijmegen), Jurien Gaari (Abha Club), Armando Obispo (PSV Eindhoven), Shurandy Sambo (Sparta Rotterdam)
Midfielders: Juninho Bacuna (FC Volendam), Leandro Bacuna (Igdir), Livano Comenencia (FC Zurich), Kevin Felida (FC Den Bosch), Ar’Jany Martha (Rotherham), Tyrese Noslin (SC Telstar), Godfried Roemeratoe (RKC Waalwijk)
Forwards: Jeremy Antonisse (AE Kifisia), Tahith Chong (Sheffield United), Kenji Gorre (Maccabi Haifa), Sontje Hansen (Middlesbrough), Gervane Kastaneer (Terengganu), Brandley Kuwas (FC Volendam), Jurgen Locadia (Miami FC), Jearl Margaritha (SK Beveren)
Coach: Dick Advocaat
Star player – Leandro Bacuna, Igdir: The former Aston Villa midfielder now plays in the Turkish second tier but the 34-year-old is Curacao’s captain and has been a cornerstone of the team’s success under Advocaat.
Breakout talent – Livano Comenencia, FC Zurich. Curacao are not blessed with young talent, partly as a result of luring older players who have not broken into the Dutch national team, but one to watch is 22-year-old right-sided player Comenencia, who developed in PSV’s academy before joining Juventus and then Zurich, and played through the Netherlands age groups before committing to Curacao in 2024.
Fifa ranking: 82.
Odds to win the World Cup: 5000/1.
Group E prediction
Germany should have enough to win the group despite fierce competition from Ecuador, who will be pipped into second place. Ivory Coast can expect to finish third, with Curacao bottom of the pile.
