FIFA World Cup 2026 Group E: It won’t happen again, will it?

Four-time champions Germany are the headline act of Group E at this summer's FIFA World Cup. They're joined by Ecuador, Ivory Coast and debutants Curacao.

Here's my FIFA World Cup 2026 Group E preview, supported by the latest odds at Betfred.

Germany

FIFA world ranking: 10

To win the group: 1/4

Unsurprisingly, Germany are odds-on to finish top of Group E at the 2026 World Cup.

That's despite the fact the four-time champions have disappointed on this stage since their victory in Brazil in 2014, failing to make it out of the groups in Russia (2018) and Qatar (2022). It won't happen again, will it?

I'd be surprised. Since the heartache in the Middle East, they've reached the quarter-final of Euro 2024, defeated by eventual winners Spain, and the semi-final of the Nations League.

Julian Nagelsmann's team have impressed in qualifying, too. After a 2-0 defeat to Slovakia, they won five on the bounce, scoring 16 and conceding just one.

It's a squad riddled with quality - the likes of Jamal Musiala, Joshua Kimmich, Florian Wirtz and Kai Havertz - and this looks a very winnable group.

Key player: Jamal Musiala

Musiala is my idea of the main man for Germany. The creative force. The one to make things happen.

The 23-year-old has become a star of the Bundesliga since making his senior debut for Bayern Munich in 2020, and he was the leading light for his country at the 2024 European Championships.

He suffered a broken leg and dislocated ankle in July 2025 which saw him sidelined for around 200 days, and it hasn't been plain sailing for him since returning to action at the start of the year. But he's in the World Cup squad and almost back to his best according to Nagelsmann.

Expect him to play a major part in North America.

Prediction: Germany ought to make it out of the groups this year - they are 1/33 after all - and it wouldn't be a great surprise if they progressed a few stages further. Quarter-finals, perhaps? I can't see them winning the whole thing, though.

Ecuador

FIFA world ranking: 23

To win the group: 9/2

Is this the best Ecuador side of all time? Surely...

La Tricolor's are making their fifth appearance at the World Cup, and hopes are as high as they've ever been about the South American nation making a splash this summer.

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Only once have they made it out of the groups, in 2006 before suffering a 1-0 defeat to England in the round of 16, but they'll fancy their chances of doing so 20 years later.

Ecuador qualified for this year's World Cup by finishing runner-up to Argentina in CONMEBOL, despite a three-point deduction. They won eight and drawn as many of their 18 games, losing just two. Only five goals conceded.

If they can take that form to North America, dare I say Sebastien Beccacece's side are dark horses in the competition?

Key player: Moises Caicedo

If Ecuador are to go far, expect Chelsea's Caicedo to be at the heart of it.

The 24-year-old, who cost the West London club £115m back in 2023, is the engine of the team and a huge part of their air-tight defence that was on show in qualifying.

He's already notched 60 appearances for his country, scoring three goals. Eight for club, in 145 appearances. So he can make a difference going forward too.

Caicedo's influence is so big that Ecuador's chances are significantly weakened if he doesn't show up. That's a key player.

Prediction: I fancy Ecuador to qualify for the knockout stages, and I wouldn't be surprised if they did it by winning the group. Their odds of 80/1 to win the whole thing are attractive for each-way purposes, but a more reasonable suggestion would be another round of 16 or the quarters.

Ivory Coast

FIFA world ranking: 34

To win the group: 7/1

This is Ivory Coast's fourth appearance at the World Cup, having made their debut 20 years ago.

They're yet to advance past the group stage, but Emerse Fae will be looking to change that in North America with a talented squad at his disposal.

Winners of AFCON in 2023, 'Les Elephants' fell short in their title defence earlier this year, knocked out at the quarter-final stage by Egypt, but they breezed through qualifying with eight wins and two draws in 10 games. They scored 25 goals and didn't concede a single one. Some preparation...

Key player: Amad Diallo

It's fair to say his performances for Manchester United dropped off towards the end of the Premier League season, following the Africa Cup Of Nations (more on that in a moment), but Amad remains the biggest threat for Ivory Coast.

The 23-year-old had a bit of a breakout season in 2024/25, recording 21 goals and assists in 43 appearances for the Red Devils, but he's managed just five from 32 this term. He's been competing with the likes of Matheus Cunha and Bryan Mbuemo, so he's afforded some slack.

At AFCON, he shone. Three goals and one assist in four starts, picking up multiple Man of the Match awards too. If that Amad shows up this summer, he's sure to be influential in whatever his country do.

Prediction: I wouldn't be shocked if Ivory Coast finished runner-up in Group E, but I think they're up against it with Germany and Ecuador in opposition and will settle for third. They have every chance of getting three points against Curacao, and might score a few in the process, so their chances of progressing as a third-place team are bright. I'd expect them to struggle in the knockout stages, though.

Curacao

FIFA world ranking: 82

To win the group: 100/1

Crystal-clear Caribbean waters. White sandy beaches. A tropical climate. There's lots to like about the island country of Curacao. Their World Cup chances, less so.

In fairness, Dick Advocaat's side sailed through qualifying, winning seven and drawing the other three of their 10 fixtures to become the smallest nation in terms of population and land mass to appear in the competition. All with a goal difference of +23.

However, it's one thing to beat the likes of Saint Lucia, Haiti, Bermuda and Aruba, and another to get past Germany, Ecuador and Ivory Coast. Never mind the nation's lying in wait if The Blue Wave were to cause a shock in North America.

That's unlikely, though. They're 8/1 at Betfred to qualify from the group, which makes limited appeal. Their odds of 1/40 to finish bottom of the group are telling.

Key player: Leandro Bacuna

Curacao's most-famous player is probably Manchester United academy graduate Tahith Chong - the fella with the big afro - but there's no doubt Leandro Bacuna remains the most important.

The 34-year-old, who plays alongside brother Juninho in the centre of midfield, is the captain, who's played 70 times for his country since his debut in 2016. He's scored 16 goals in that time.

He's represented Watford, Cardiff City, Reading and Aston Villa at club level, but currently plies his trade for Turkish outfit Idgir FK.

Whatever Curacao achieve this summer, the skipper is likely to be at the heart of it.

Prediction: I'd love to suggest they can upset the odds and make it out of Group E, but I don't believe it. They've got it all to do, and unfortunately I think they're destined to finish dead last.

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