Welcome to The Athletic’s 2026 World Cup tactical group guides, walking you through the key battles on the pitch, the players to look out for, and the fun facts to impress your friends ahead of the tournament.Here we will break down Group E, which features Germany, Curacao, Ecuador and Ivory Coast.It’s an eclectic mix. Germany, the 2014 winners, are the favorites, however they will be desperate to avoid a third-straight group-stage exit.Debutants Curacao will make history as the smallest nation (in population and land size) to play at football’s biggest tournament. Only after the Dutch Antilles was dissolved in 2010 could they compete under their own flag.Meanwhile, Ecuador and Ivory Coast could both be dark horses. The former boast a golden generation while the latter were African champions just three years ago.Are Germany better than in 2022 and 2018? Can Curacao surprise everyone? Will Ecuador’s defence stand strong?Can Florian Wirtz stamp his authority on the 2026 World Cup? (Alexander Hassenstein/Getty Images)The gamesMatchday one
Sunday, June 14: Germany vs Curacao (1pm ET, 10am PT, 6pm BST) — NRG Stadium, Houston
Sunday, June 14: Ivory Coast vs Ecuador (7pm ET, 4pm PT, 12am Monday BST) — Lincoln Financial Field, Philadelphia
