Group E Preview
Group E has the potential to throw up all manner of intriguing World Cup storylines.
Among the perennial pre-tournament favourites, Germany have had a rough time of it in recent editions and will hoping to avoid a third-straight group stage exit.
Meanwhile, both Ecuador and Ivory Coast could quite easily lay claim to this year’s dark horses tag, while history-making Curacao will be hoping to pull off a serious shock in their debut campaign.
Table of Contents
World Cup Group E fixtures and where to watch
| Fixture | Date | Kick-off (all UK BST) | Venue | Where to Watch |
| Germany v Curacao | June 14 | 18:00 | NRG Stadium, Houston | ITV and ITVX |
| Ivory Coast v Ecuador | June 15 | 00:00 | Lincoln Financial Field, Philadelphia | BBC and iPlayer |
| Germany v Ivory Coast | June 20 | 21:00 | BMO Field, Toronto | ITV and ITVX |
| Ecuador v Curacao | June 21 | 01:00 | Arrowhead Stadium, Kansas City | BBC and iPlayer |
| Curacao v Ivory Coast | June 25 | 21:00 | Lincoln Financial Field, Philadelphia | BBC and iPlayer |
| Ecuador v Germany | June 25 | 21:00 | MetLife Stadium, East Rutherford | BBC and iPlayer |
Here, we take a look at the teams in detail.
Germany: 2026 World Cup preview, star player, prediction
Coach: Julian Nagelsmann
Qualification: UEFA Group A winners
Best World Cup: Winners (1954, 1974, 1990 and 2014)
Since going all the way in Brazil in 2014, Germany have failed to progress out of the group at the last two World Cup tournaments – nothing short of a calamity for a nation that regularly goes deep in major international competitions.
And so there will perhaps be more than a little pressure on Die Mannschaft to deliver in North America this summer.
Thankfully, head coach Julian Nagelsmann has a squad littered with both talent and experience at his disposal. At 40, veteran goalkeeper Manual Neuer is set to appear at his fifth World Cup, while his Bayern Munich team-mate, exciting teenager Lennart Karl, was born just two years before Neuer’s first appearance at the finals.
Midfielder Joshua Kimmich will captain the side. Comparisons have repeatedly been made between the influential 31-year-old and the legendary Lothar Matthaus, the first outfield player to play at five World Cups who captained his country to glory in 1990.
Suffice to say, Nagelsmann’s men will be expected to make light work of the group stage and, in doing so, exorcise the lingering demons of the last eight years.
Star player: Magical Musiala can shine on global stage
In a team bustling with quality, the primary creative cog in the Nagalsmann machine will be Jamal Musiala.
The former Chelsea and England youth player suffered a horrific leg break at last year’s Club World Cup but returned to first team action for Bayern Munich in January.
Still only 23, Musiala possesses sublime close control and devastating technical ability, the type that can get fans off their seat – a rare gift in the modern game.
Prediction: Germany in the mix but trophy would be a surprise
Anything other than pole position in the group would be seen as something of a shock. Beyond that, the European heavyweights can never be truly ruled out of any list of potential tournament winners.
In the words of Gary Lineker: “Football is a simple game. Twenty-two men chase a ball for 90 minutes and at the end, the Germans always win.”
It remains to be seen if that will ring true this summer.
Curacao: 2026 World Cup preview, star player, prediction
Coach: Dick Advocaat
Qualification: CONCACAF Group C winners
Best World Cup: 2026 debutants
Curacao’s qualification for the finals is one of the great fairytale stories of this year’s tournament. History-makers even before a ball has been kicked, they will make their World Cup bow as the smallest nation ever – by both population and land area – to have reached the finals.
But they will feel as though their presence should be taken as more than just a feel-good story. Unbeaten throughout qualifying and helmed by experienced Dutch coach Dick Advocaat, Curacao will be hoping to cause a shock this summer.
Preparations have been far from plain sailing, however. Advocaat resigned from his post in February, citing personal reasons, but was reappointed in May before a 4-1 thrashing at the hands of Scotland in a warm-up game at Hampden Park.
In captain Leandro Bacuna and goalkeeper Eloy Room, Advocaat can call upon Curacao’s two most-capped players. It will be that experience that will likely prove pivotal if this plucky Caribbean nation is to turn a few heads.
Star player: Chong hoping to show Manchester United pedigree
Former Manchester United player Tahith Chong will be hoping to showcase on the world stage the same early promise he showed at the Premier League giants.
Now 26, the Sheffield United attacking midfielder, who made a handful of appearances for the Red Devils, has scored three times for his country since switching his international allegiance to Curacao, which was approved by FIFA last year.
He will be looking to add to that tally this summer.
Prediction: Inevitable struggle but Curacao must enjoy the ride
For Curacao to register a point from a tough group would be an achievement in itself, while progression to the knockout stages would be a remarkable feat for the first-timers.
Three defeats would hardly be a surprising return, but Advocaat, a former head coach at the likes of Rangers, the Netherlands and Belgium, will have his team well-drilled, so don’t expect them to be whipping boys.
Ivory Coast: 2026 World Cup preview, star player, prediction
Coach: Emerse Fae
Qualification: CAF Group F winners
Best World Cup: Group stage (2006, 2010, 2014)
The battle for second and third place in the group will more than likely be contested by Ecuador and the Ivory Coast.
In the case of the latter, they will see the expanded competition format as arguably their best chance yet at a first knockout appearance.
Gone are the days of the Elephants being able to call upon genuine superstars like Didier Drogba and Yaya Toure, but Emerse Fae’s side will be no pushovers, having gone unbeaten in qualifying.
Returning to the finals after a 12-year absence, Fae has made his intentions clear: “We’re not going to the USA just to make up the numbers or go sightseeing… we’re going with lofty goals and ambitions that live up to the expectations of the Ivorian people.”
Star player: Amad has class to drag Ivory Coast to qualification
While there will undoubtedly be eyes on Yan Diomande – not least of all Liverpool, who have been linked with the RB Leipzig winger – much of the Ivory Coast’s success will likely be determined by just how well Manchester United’s Amad Diallo performs.
Diallo shone as the Elephants fell at the quarter-final stage at the recent Africa Cup of Nations and made 33 appearances for United in all competitions this season as the Red Devils finished third in the Premier League.
Prediction: Qualification likely in tough group
Ecuador may just edge second place in the group, but the Elephants should register enough points to progress regardless.
Ecuador: 2026 World Cup preview, star player, prediction
Coach: Sebastian Beccacece
Qualification: South American qualifying (runners-up)
Best World Cup: Round of 16 (2006)
It speaks to the talent of this crop of Ecuador players that, in a World Cup qualifying campaign alongside five-time winners Brazil and holders Argentina, it was Beccacece’s men who lost the fewest games.
Ecuador finished second in the group, ahead of the Selecao, Uruguay and Colombia, and are genuine contenders to surprise a few people at the finals.
A mean defence comprising Paris Saint-Germain’s Willian Pacho, Arsenal’s Piero Hincapie and Milan’s Pervis Estupinan will provide the bedrock for Ecuador’s more creative talent, with Chelsea’s Kendry Paez and the vastly experienced Enner Valencia – at the ripe old age of 36 – providing the threat.
Star player: Chelsea powerhouse key to Ecuador campaign
However, it is in the talents of Moises Caicedo that Ecuador will pin their greatest hopes. Widely-regarded as one of the finest players in his position anywhere in the world, Caicedo’s stock could reach stratospheric this summer.
The Chelsea holding midfielder has been a stand-out player since arriving at Stamford Bridge for more than £100million in 2023 – an amount that was initially thought to be a huge gamble.
Few would argue with the price tag now. In Caicedo, Ecuador have a generational talent.
Prediction: Ecuador may surprise a few
Provided all their star names can perform – and crucially remain fit – following gruelling domestic seasons, Ecuador have a strong chance of reaching the knockout stages unbeaten.
The clash with Germany will likely be the clearest test of the South Americans’ tournament credentials, but the game against Ivory Coast could prove the most intriguing of all in Group E.
Predicted Group E table
| Wins | Draws | Losses | Points | |
| Germany | 2 | 1 | 0 | 7 |
| Ecuador | 1 | 2 | 0 | 5 |
| Ivory Coast | 1 | 1 | 1 | 4 |
| Curacao | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 |
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