Which teams are in Group E at the World Cup 2026?

Group E contains Germany, Curaçao, Côte d'Ivoire, Ecuador. Each team plays the other three once during the group stage.

How does Group E qualification work?

The top two finishers in Group E qualify automatically for the round of 32. The eight best third-placed teams across all 12 groups also advance.

When are the Group E matches played?

All 6 Group E fixtures are listed below with date, kickoff time and host stadium across the United States, Canada and Mexico.

What are the points rules for Group E?

Standard FIFA scoring applies: 3 points for a win, 1 for a draw, 0 for a loss. Tiebreakers: points, goal difference, goals scored, then head-to-head.

All teams & groups

FIFA World Cup 2026

Group E

Germany's reset group with three live underdogs

Group E is on paper Germany's group, but the three underdogs are anything but pushovers. Curaçao make their first ever World Cup, Côte d'Ivoire arrive as AFCON 2024 champions on home soil, and Ecuador return as one of CONMEBOL's most well-drilled young sides.

Who advances

Germany are the consensus group winners. The Round-of-32 second slot is genuinely open between Côte d'Ivoire and Ecuador.

Tactical clash

Germany's positional play under Julian Nagelsmann meets two African-style high-pressing sides and Ecuador's compact 4-4-2. Expect three of the six fixtures to be high-line vs counter-attack matchups.

Market view

Germany are around 1.30 to top the group and 9.00 to win the tournament. Côte d'Ivoire are short favourites for second.

Team-by-team Group E breakdown

Germany

Storyline. Four-time champions on a deep rebuild after a poor Euro 2024 group exit. New generation around Florian Wirtz, Jamal Musiala and Kai Havertz is the most talented Germany have produced since 2014.

Key player. Florian Wirtz — Bundesliga Player of the Year and the tactical hinge of everything Nagelsmann wants to do.

Prediction. Group winner is the floor; semi-final the realistic ceiling; a fifth star is not impossible.

Côte d'Ivoire

Storyline. AFCON 2024 champions on home soil after one of the great tournament runs in African football history. Squad blends Premier League and Ligue 1 spines.

Key player. Sébastien Haller — cancer survivor and AFCON 2024 winning goal scorer in the final. The emotional and tactical leader.

Prediction. Second place is the median; a Round-of-16 win is realistic.

Ecuador

Storyline. Third consecutive World Cup for La Tri. A defensive structure built around the youngest backline at the tournament, with Brighton's Moisés Caicedo dictating midfield.

Key player. Moisés Caicedo — Premier League-record signing for Chelsea and the most complete defensive midfielder in the squad.

Prediction. Third place is the median; a best-third path is firmly in play.

Curaçao

Storyline. First ever World Cup for the Caribbean island of 150,000 people — the smallest nation by population to ever qualify. Coached by Dick Advocaat in his third tournament.

Key player. Tahith Chong — the Birmingham winger is the most experienced player at top-flight European level.

Prediction. Bottom of the group is the realistic outcome; a single point would be a historic landmark.

Group E standings & points table

Live World Cup 2026 Group E table — wins, draws, losses, goals for and against, goal difference and points. Updated by the Cup26 editorial team after every match. FIFA scoring: 3 pts for a win, 1 for a draw, 0 for a loss.