Germany have already secured their place in the last 32 of the World Cup but will look to flex their muscles in New Jersey against Ecuador.
The four-time world champions have been in sparkling form in parts so far, brushing aside their previous opponents to take maximum points so far. With a squad firing on all cylinders, Julian Nagelsmann’s side are heavy favourites to finish the job tonight.
However, Ecuador are no pushovers. La Tri are fighting for their lives in the group and know that an upset against the European giants could punch their ticket to the knockout rounds.
Germany have won the group and will face third place from either A, B, C, D or F while Ecuador must win and hope Ivory Coast lose to Curacao if they are to finish second.
Third place could well be enough, of course. Here’s how they line up.
Table of Contents
Ecuador team news
Ecuador XI: Galindez, Hincapie, Ordonez, Pacho, Vite, Franco, Caicedo, Yeboah, Valencia, Plata, Angulo
Ecuador subs: Ramirez, Valle, Torres, Estupinan, Preciado, Porozo, Medina, Alcivar, Valencia, Paez, Minda, Castillo, Rodriguez, Caicedo, Arevalo
Germany team news
Germany defender Nico Schlotterbeck is out of the finals after damaging a ligament in his left ankle against Ivory Coast.
Deniz Undav has scored three times from the bench and is named on the bench once again, with Havertz leading the line.
Germany XI: Neuer, Rudiger, Tah, Kimmich, Raum, Pavlovic, Nmecha, Musiala, Wirtz, Sane, Havertz
Germany subs: Baumann, Nübel, Anton, Thiaw, Goretzka, Leweling, Gross, Stiller, Amiri, Ouedraogo, Woltemade, Beier, Undav
Where to watch Ecuador v Germany: TV channel, live online streams
Kick-off on Thursday is at 21:00 BST (18:00 ET / 15:00 PT). In the UK, live coverage is on BBC One.
Streaming on a vast range of devices is available through the BBC iPlayer app and BBC Sport website.
World Cup 2026: Ecuador v Germany stats
- Ecuador started the finals as one of four nations with an even goal difference in World Cup history, alongside Bosnia and Herzegovina, Ireland and East Germany
- This is Ecuador’s fifth participation at a World Cup. The only time they reached the knockout stage was in 2006, when they were eliminated by England in the last 16
- Ecuador finished second behind Argentina in the CONMEBOL qualifiers, equalling their best-ever performance in such a campaign for the tournament (also 2002)
- They had the strongest defense in the section, conceding five goals across 18 matches, and lost the fewest games (2 away defeats, against Argentina and Brazil)
- Valencia scored three goals each at the 2014 and 2022 finals and was involved in more than half of Ecuador’s goals in qualifying, scoring six and assisting two
- Sebastian Beccacece is the fifth individual to lead Ecuador at a World Cup; with three Colombians and two Argentineans, including Beccacece
- Germany will enter the knockout stage for the first time since winning the World Cup 12 years ago
- They recovered from a 2-0 defeat in Slovakia in their opening qualifier for this edition – a first-ever World Cup qualifying away loss – to win all of their remaining matches in the campaign, signing off with a 6-0 home win over The Falcons
- Die Mannschaft won the tournament in 1954, 1974, 1990 and 2014 but were knocked out by Bulgaria in the last eight when it was held in the US 32 years ago
- Manuel Neuer was part of the 2014 triumph and has 126 caps. Before these finals, the goalkeeper’s last appearance for his country had been in a EURO 2024 quarter-final defeat by Spain
- This is Julian Nagelsmann’s first World Cup as head coach. At 38, he is the youngest boss to take charge of a team at the 2026 tournament, with the last head coach to win the World Cup in his 30s being Cesar Luis Menotti with Argentina in 1978 (39)
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