World Cup 2026 Group E
GROUP E
| Team | GP | W | D | L | GF | GA | Pts |
| Germany | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 10 | 4 | 6 |
| Ivory Coast | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 4 | 2 | 6 |
| Ecuador | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 4 |
| Curaçao | 3 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 9 | 1 |
Andy Greeves
[Team Jersey Images © Soccerphile]
Germany
Germany have triumphed four times at the World Cup since the competition began in 1930. Only Brazil have won more World Cups (five) than 'Die Mannschaft', while Italy share their record of four successes.
Making their tournament debut in 1954, West Germany won the 16-team tournament in Switzerland with a 3-2 final triumph over Hungary. They were crowned world champions again on home soil in 1974 after beating the Netherlands 2-1 in the final in Munich while Die Mannschaft's third triumph came in 1990, with a late Andreas Brehme penalty enough to give them a 1-0 victory over Argentina in the final.
Germany achieved their first World Cup success as a unified nation on July 13, 2014 as an extra-time goal from Mario Götze saw them defeat Argentina once again in the final at the Maracanã Stadium in Rio de Janeiro.
While Germany have a fine World Cup pedigree, their recent showings in the tournament have been disappointing. Defeats to Mexico and South Korea proved costly at the 2018 World Cup, as Die Mannschaft finished bottom of Group F. They were also eliminated at the group stage four years ago, despite beating Costa Rica 4-2 and drawing 1-1 with Spain.
World Cup veteran Manuel Neuer will be appearing at his fifth finals this summer. Neuer previously announced international retirement back in August 2024 having played in 19 matches across four World Cups (2010, 2014, 2018, 2022) - a record number of appearances for a goalkeeper. But he came out of retirement in May 2026, much to the delight of Die Mannschaft head coach Julian Nagelsmann’s and disappointment of Oliver Baumann, who had started all six of Germany’s qualifiers for this World Cup.
Nagelsmann's team usually set up in a 4-2-3-1 formation and are renowned for their high-tempo press and possession-based football.
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Germany Kit 1 |
Germany Kit 2 |
Germany vs Curaçao - June 14; Houston
Germany vs Ivory Coast - June 20; Toronto
Ecuador vs Germany - June 25; East Rutherford
Coach
Coach: Julian Nagelsmann
Record
Best World Cup: Winners in 1954, 1974, 1990 and 2014.
Formation
4-2-3-1
One to watch: Nick Woltemade
Newcastle United forward Nick Woltemade may well spearhead Germany's this attack this summer, having scored four goals and made one assist in six appearances during 2026 World Cup qualifying.
Woltemade began his career at Werder Bremen, for whom he scored twice in 51 senior appearances between 2020 and 2024. He spent a loan spell with SV Elversberg in 2022/23 while he netted 18 times in 36 games in his one-and-a-bit seasons with VfB Stuttgart prior to joining the Magpies in the Premier League last August.
Germany are amongst the tournament favourites for this World Cup.
How they qualified
Germany won five of their six UEFA Group A World Cup qualifying games to book their spot at this summer's tournament. After a 2-0 defeat to Slovakia in their opening group game, Die Mannschaft went on to secure home and away victories over Northern Ireland and Luxembourg, while they beat Slovakia 6-0 in Leipzig on 17 November 2025 to top the group with 15 points.
On the sidelines
Borussia Dortmund captain Emre Can is set to miss the World Cup having sustained knee ligament damage in BVB's Der Klassiker defeat to Bayern Munich back in March. Serge Gnabry is also likely to miss out with an adductor injury.
Squad
Goalkeepers: Oliver Baumann (Hoffenheim), Manuel Neuer (Bayern Munich), Alexander Nubel (Stuttgart)
Defenders: Waldemar Anton (Borussia Dortmund), Nathaniel Brown (Eintracht Frankfurt), Joshua Kimmich (Bayern Munich), David Raum (RB Leipzig), Antonio Rudiger (Real Madrid), Nico Schlotterbeck (Borussia Dortmund), Jonathan Tah (Bayern Munich), Malick Thiaw (Newcastle United)
Midfielders: Nadiem Amiri (Mainz), Leon Goretzka (Bayern Munich), Pascal Gross (Brighton and Hove Albion), Jamie Leweling (Stuttgart), Jamal Musiala (Bayern Munich), Felix Nmecha (Borussia Dortmund), Aleksandar Pavlovic (Bayern Munich), Angelo Stiller (Stuttgart), Florian Wirtz (Liverpool)
Strikers: Maximilian Beier (Borussia Dortmund), Kai Havertz (Arsenal), Lennart Karl (Bayern Munich), Leroy Sane (Galatasaray), Deniz Undav (Stuttgart), Nick Woltemade (Newcastle United)
Curaçao
With a population of 150,000, Curaçao are the smallest country by population to make it to a World Cup.
Both FIFA and CONCACAF recognize the Curaçao national team as the direct successor of the dependant Territory of Curaçao (1921-1958) and the Netherlands Antilles (1958-2010), with Curaçao having played under a new constitutional status as a separate constituent country since 2011.
The 'Blue Wave' enjoyed their first major tournament success in 2017 when they beat Jamaica 2-1 in the Caribbean Cup Final. They have also qualified for three CONCACAF Gold Cups to date, reaching the quarter-finals in 2019.
Dick Advocaat oversaw Curaçao's successful qualification to this summer's World Cup but resigned back in February due to health concerns about his daughter. Fellow Dutchman Fred Rutten took on managerial responsibilities but he too quit after disagreements with the squad and Advocaat returned in May as his daughter's health improved. Rutten had previously held the top job at club sides including FC Twente, Schalke 04, PSV Eindhoven, SBV Vitesse, Feyenoord, Al Shabab, Maccabi Haifa and Anderlecht.
The majority of Curaçao's squad play their club football in the Netherlands while goalkeeper Eloy Room and forward Jürgen Locadia are both under contract with USL Championship side Miami FC. A number of players also ply their trade in England, including Middlesbrough's Sontje Hansen while captain Leandro Bacuna previously turned out for Aston Villa, Reading, Cardiff City and Watford.
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Curaçao Kit 1 |
Curaçao Kit 2 |
Germany vs Curaçao - June 14; Houston
Ecuador vs Curaçao - June 20; Kansas City
Curaçao vs Ivory Coast - June 25; Philadelphia
Coach
Dick Advocaat
Record
Best World Cup: Debut appearance in 2026.
Formation
4-2-3-1
One to watch: Kenji Gorré
Born in Spijkenisse, Netherlands on 29 September 1994, Kenji Gorré was previously part of the academy setup with both Manchester City and Manchester United before making his professional breakthrough with then-Premier League side Swansea City.
Currently playing his club football for Maccabi Haifa, Gorré made his Curaçao debut against Jamaica in 2019 (albeit he had previously played for Curaçao in an unofficial friendly against Eredivisie side Excelsior Rotterdam three years earlier). The 5ft 10in winger has since featured in 33 international matches, scoring six times.
Curaçao are Group E underdogs but, as a relatively unknown quantity, could cause a surprise or two at this summer's World Cup.
How they qualified
Curaçao won three and drew three of their six CONCACAF third round Group B matches to seal their place at this summer's World Cup. Results in qualifying included home wins over Bermuda (3-2) and Jamaica (2-0) while they thrashed Bermuda 7-0 in Hamilton on 13 November 2025 to confirm their place at the World Cup.
Curaçao previously topped CONCACAF second round Group B with four wins from four in matches with Haiti, Saint Lucia, Aruba and Barbados.
On the sidelines
In addition to being the smallest-ever World Cup nation by population, Curaçao is also the smallest by land area too. The Caribbean Island is just 171 square miles in size.
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 (Igdır), Livano Comenencia (FC Zurich), Kevin Felida (FC Den Bosch), Ar'Jany Martha (Rotherham United), Tyrese Noslin (SC Telstar), Godfried Roemeratoe (RKC Waalwijk)
Strikers: Jeremy Antonisse (AE Kifisia), Tahith Chong (Sheffield United), Kenji Gorré (Maccabi Haifa), Sontje Hansen (Middlesbrough), Gervane Kastaneer (Terengganu FC), Brandley Kuwas (FC Volendam), Jurgen Locadia (Miami FC), Jearl Margaritha (SK Beveren)
Ivory Coast
Ivory Coast made their World Cup debut back in 2006. Les Éléphants suffered Group C defeats to Argentina and the Netherlands before winning their first-ever finals match against Serbia & Montenegro on 21 June 2006.
As was the case in 2006, Ivory Coast also exited the tournament at the group stage on their most recent World Cup finals appearances in 2010 and 2014. They drew (0-0) with Portugal and beat North Korea 3-0 at the 2010 competition but finished a point behind Group G runners-up, Portugal. And in 2014, they were beaten 2-1 by both Colombia and Greece with their only Group C victory in those finals coming against Japan (2-1).
Emerse Faé became Ivory Coast head coach, initially on a caretaker basis, in bizarre circumstances back in January 2024. His appointment came whilst Les Éléphants were competing at the Africa Cup of Nations finals, with Jean-Louis Gasset fired after losing back-to-back group games. Faé's first match in charge saw them beat Senegal on penalties in a round of 16 match and subsequent triumphs over Mali, DR Congo and Nigeria saw them go on to win the tournament. That was Ivory Coast's third Africa Cup of Nations success.
During the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations, Ivory Coast typically operated in a 4-3-3 formation, with Ibrahim Sangaré operating as a deep-lying midfielder while Christ Inao Oulaï and captain Franck Kessié played box-to-box. Sangaré and Kessié were amongst those Ivory Coast players to score two goals in qualification, as did Simon Adingra, Yan Diomande, Evann Guessand , Sébastien Haller, Karim Konaté and Hamed Traorè while Seko Fofana netted three times.
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Ivory Coast Kit 1 |
Ivory Coast Kit 2 |
Ivory Coast vs Ecuador - June 14; Philadelphia
Germany vs Ivory Coast - June 20; Toronto
Curaçao vs Ivory Coast - June 25; Philadelphia
Coach
Emerse Faé
Record
Best World Cup: Group stage in 2006, 2010 and 2014.
Formation
4-2-3-1
One to watch: Franck Kessié
Captain Franck Kessié has played over 100 senior internationals for the Ivory Coast since debuting for Les Éléphants against Sierra Leone in 2015. He has since been included in their squad for the 2017, 2019 and 2023 Africa Cup of Nations. He scored in the final of the latter tournament as Ivory Coast beat Nigeria 2-1.
Kessié's career to date has seen him represent a number of club heavyweights including AC Milan, Barcelona and Al-Ahli.
With the Les Éléphants' previous 'golden generation' boasted household names such as Didier Drogba, Salomon Kalou and the Touré brothers, Kolo and Yaya, they never managed to reach the knockout phase of a World Cup. The Ivory Coast class of 2026 has a good opportunity to do just that.
How they qualified
Ivory Coast were unbeaten in qualifying for the 2026 World Cup, winning eight of their 10 CAF Group F fixtures and drawing the other two. A 3-0 victory over Kenya on 14 October 2-25 sealed Les Éléphants' place at the tournament.
On the sidelines
Former Arsenal forward Nicolas Pépé recently spoke of his confidence of making Ivory Coast's 2026 World Cup squad, despite his exclusion from the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations selection.
Squad
Goalkeepers: Yahia Fofana (Rizespor), Mohamed Kone (Charleroi), Alban Lafont (Panathinaikos)
Defenders: Emmanuel Agbadou (Wolverhampton Wanderers), Clement Akpa (AJ Auxerre), Ousmane Diomande (Sporting), Guela Doue (Racing Strasbourg), Ghislain Konan (Gil Vicente), Odilon Kossonou (Atalanta), Evan Ndicka (AS Roma), Wilfried Singo (Galatasaray)
Midfielders: Seko Fofana (Stade Rennais), Parfait Guiagon (Charleroi), Franck Kessie (Al Ahli), Christ Oulai (Trabzonspor), Ibrahim Sangare (Nottingham Forest), Jean-Michael Seri (NK Maribor)
Strikers: Simon Adingra (AS 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)
Ecuador
Ecuador made a real statement of intent in qualifying for this World Cup, finishing above Colombia, Uruguay, Brazil and Paraguay in the CONMEBOL table and were second only to reigning world champions Argentina. 'La Tri' boasted the best defensive record in South American qualifying too - conceding only five goals in 18 matches. Brazil, for example, shipped 17 goals in the same amount of games.
After failing to qualify for the World Cup between 1962 and 1998, Ecuador have made it to five of the last seven finals (2002, 2006, 2014, 2022 and 2026). Their best performance in that time came in 2006 when they reached the last 16 before suffering a 1-0 defeat to England. They failed to progress beyond the group phase four years ago, finishing behind the Netherlands and Senegal in Group A.
Head coach Sebastián Beccacece has an excellent squad spine to call upon which includes veteran goalkeeper Hernán Galíndez, central defensive paring Joel Ordóñez and Willian Pacho, flying full-back Pervis Estupiñán, Chelsea midfielder Moisés Caicedo and prolific, goalscoring captain Enner Valencia.
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Ecuador Kit 1 |
Ecuador Kit 2 |
Ivory Coast vs Ecuador - June 14; Philadelphia
Ecuador vs Curaçao - June 20; Kansas City
Ecuador vs Germany - June 25; East Rutherford
Coach
Sebastián Beccacece
Record
Best World Cup: Round of 16 in 2006.
Formation
4-2-3-1
One to watch: Enner Valencia
Enner Valencia is Ecuador's all-time leading goalscorer. His brace in a 3-0 victory over Boliva on 8 October 2021 took his tally to 33 goals - two clear of previous record holder, Agustin Delgado.
Valencia netted three times at the 2014 World Cup and three more at the 2022 tournament, which included a brace against hosts Qatar in the opening fixture. To date, he has scored 49 goals in 105 appearances for Ecuador.
Head coach Sebastián Beccacece told a press conference back in October 2025; “We (Ecuador) are focused on making the greatest World Cup in the history of the national team.” To achieve that, Ecuador would need to reach the quarter-finals. A lofty but not completely unrealistic ambition.
How they qualified
As mentioned, Ecuador finished runners-up in the CONMEBOL table to secure qualification for the 2026 World Cup. Statement results included goalless draw with Brazil in Guayaquil on 5 June 2025 and a 1-0 win over Argentina - also in Guayaquil - on 9 September 2025. Home victories during the campaign also came against Uruguay (2-1), Chilie (1-0), Peru (1-0), Bolivia (4-0) and Venezuela (2-1) while they won in Bolivia (2-1) and Colombia (1-0).
On the sidelines
Born in San Lorenzo, Ecuador on 4 November 1989, Enner Valencia's full name is Enner Remberto Valencia Lastra.
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, on loan from Chelsea), Pedro Vite (UNAM), Jordy Alcivar (Independiente del Valle), Denil Castillo (Midtjylland), Yaimar Medina (Genk)
Strikers: Enner Valencia (Pachuca), Kevin Rodriguez (Union Saint-Gilloise), Jordy Caicedo (Huracan), Nilson Angulo (Sunderland), Anthony Valencia (Antwerp), Jeremy Arevalo (Stuttgart)
