Group E World Cup 2026: Teams, Schedule, Standings & Venues
Group E World Cup 2026 features four teams competing in a round-robin format during the group stage of the FIFA World Cup.
The expanded 48-team tournament, hosted across Canada, Mexico, and the United States, includes 12 groups, bringing greater global representation than ever before.
As the competition approaches in June 2026, Group E brings together teams from four different confederations: Germany (UEFA), Ecuador (CONMEBOL), Côte d’Ivoire (CAF), and Curaçao (CONCACAF).
Can Germany assert dominance with their championship pedigree? Will Ecuador’s emerging talents disrupt the established order? Côte d’Ivoire will aim to make a deep run after missing out in 2022, while Curaçao’s World Cup debut could deliver one of the tournament’s surprise stories.
Below, we break down the teams, fixtures, standings, and venues for Group E at the 2026 World Cup.
Teams in Group C World Cup 2026
Group E of the 2026 FIFA World Cup consists of Germany, Curaçao, Ivory Coast, and Ecuador.
Germany
Germany is making its 21st World Cup appearance, having won the tournament four times (1954, 1974, 1990, 2014).
They enter the 2026 edition having automatically qualified as the winner of their UEFA qualification group.
Their opening match will be against Curaçao on June 14, 2026, in NRG Stadium.
Côte d’Ivoire
Ivory Coast (Côte d’Ivoire) returns after missing the 2018 and 2022 editions, making this their fourth appearance.
They secured their place in the 2026 World Cup by winning the CAF qualifying group.
Ivory Coast will begin their campaign against Ecuador in Philadelphia on June 14, 2026.
Ecuador
Ecuador will participate in their fifth World Cup. They qualified as the runner-up in the highly competitive CONMEBOL round-robin tournament, showcasing their strength in South American football.
Ecuador are considered a strong contender to advance from Group E alongside Germany.
They play their first match against the Ivory Coast in Philadelphia on June 14, 2026.
Curaçao
Curaçao is one of the biggest stories of the 2026 World Cup, as they make their first-ever appearance in the tournament finals.
With a population of around 156,000 people, they became the smallest nation ever to qualify for the tournament, a record previously held by Iceland.
Group E World Cup 2026 Schedule
The Group E schedule runs from June 14 to June 25, 2026, with matches in the United States and Canada.
Group E Match Schedule
| Date | Match | Venue | Local Time / ET |
|---|---|---|---|
| June 14, 2026 | Germany vs. Curaçao | NRG Stadium | 12:00 p.m. local / 1:00 p.m. ET |
| June 14, 2026 | Côte d’Ivoire vs. Ecuador | Lincoln Financial Field | 7:00 p.m. ET |
| June 20, 2026 | Germany vs. Côte d’Ivoire | BMO Field | 4:00 p.m. ET |
| June 20, 2026 | Ecuador vs. Curaçao | Arrowhead Stadium | 7:00 p.m. local / 8:00 p.m. ET |
| June 25, 2026 | Ecuador vs. Germany | MetLife Stadium | 4:00 p.m. ET |
| June 25, 2026 | Curaçao vs. Côte d’Ivoire | Lincoln Financial Field | 4:00 p.m. ET |
Group E World Cup 2026 Standings
As the tournament has not begun, the standings table is blank. However, the qualification rules are clear: the top two teams in the group will automatically advance to the Round of 32.
Furthermore, the third-placed team also has a strong chance to progress, as the eight best third-place finishers from all twelve groups will fill out the knockout bracket.
Current Standings – Group E World Cup 2026
| Team | P | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Germany | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Curaçao | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Côte d’Ivoire | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Ecuador | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Standings will be updated after each match.
Qualification Rules:
- The top two teams in the group automatically advance to the Round of 32.
- Additionally, the third-placed team also has a strong chance to advance. The eight best third-place finishers from all twelve groups will progress to fill out the knockout bracket.
Knockout Stage Path:
- The winner of Group E will advance to play the third-placed team of Group A, Group B, Group C, Group D, or Group F.
- The runner-up of Group E will advance to play the runner-up of Group I.
- The third-placed team of Group E might advance to play the winner of Group A, Group B, Group D, Group G, Group K, or Group L (if one of the eight best third-placed teams from the group stage).
Group E World Cup 2026 Venues
The 2026 FIFA World Cup Group E matches will be played in five venues across the United States and Canada: NRG Stadium in Houston, Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia, BMO Field in Toronto, GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City, and MetLife Stadium in New York/New Jersey.
NRG Stadium (Houston, Texas)
Located in Houston, Texas, the NRG Stadium is a state-of-the-art facility primarily known as the home of the NFL’s Houston Texans.
It features a retractable roof and a seating capacity of approximately 72,000 for the World Cup.
For the 2026 World Cup, it will be a bustling hub, hosting seven matches, including a Round of 16 fixture.
Its World Cup journey begins with a fascinating Group E opener on June 14, 2026, as the four-time champion Germany faces the historic debutants from Curaçao.
Lincoln Financial Field (Philadelphia, Pennsylvania)
The Lincoln Financial Field (Philadelphia Stadium) is a modern stadium in Philadelphia, with a capacity of around 69,000.
For the World Cup, it has been selected to host six matches, including a highly symbolic Round of 16 game on July 4, 2026
It will host two Group E matches: Ivory Coast vs. Ecuador on June 14 and Curaçao vs. Ivory Coast on June 25, 2026.
BMO Field (Toronto, Ontario, Canada)
BMO Field (Toronto Stadium) in Toronto, Ontario, is the smallest World Cup venue, with a capacity of approximately 45,000 for the tournament.
It will host the critical Group E match between Germany and the African champions, the Ivory Coast, on June 20.
GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium (Kansas City, Missouri)
The GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium (Kansas City Stadium) in Kansas City, It has a seating capacity of approximately 73,000 for the World Cup.
It is scheduled to host the Group E encounter between Ecuador and Curaçao on June 20, 2026.
MetLife Stadium (New York/New Jersey, New Jersey)
Situated in East Rutherford, New Jersey, the MetLife Stadium (New York New Jersey Stadium) is one of the largest venues for the World Cup, with a seating capacity of around 82,500.
Its ultimate significance for the 2026 tournament is monumental: it has been chosen to host the World Cup Final on July 19.
Before that climactic event, it will set a grand stage for one of Group E’s final and potentially decisive matches: the showdown between Ecuador and Germany on June 25.