👀 Who goes through? Group E and F previews for the 2026 World Cup | OneFootball

IT’S ALMOST TIME!

The 2026 World Cup gets underway next Thursday (11).

After the breakdown of Groups A and B and C and D, it is now time for two more: E and F.

Which feature Germany and the Netherlands, for example.

The top two teams in each group will advance to the preliminary round of 32 along with the eight best third-placed teams.

See below how the teams in those groups are shaping up and have your say: who should qualify?

🏆 Group E

Match Schedule 📅

June 14 - 2pm - Germany x Curaçao

June 14 - 8pm - Ivory Coast x Ecuador

June 20 - 5pm - Germany x Ivory Coast

June 20 - 9pm - Ecuador x Curaçao

June 25 - 5pm - Germany x Ecuador and Curaçao x Ivory Coast

Four-time champions, runners-up on four other occasions, and absent only from the 1930 and 1950 editions, Germany have one major mission among the game’s heavyweights: avoid another embarrassment.

After a run of runner-up finishes, two third-place finishes and the title in 2014, Die Nationalelf suffered group-stage exits in 2018 and 2022.

The qualifying campaign began with the shock of a defeat to Slovakia, but the ticket was secured directly.

Julian Nagelsmann — in charge since September 2023 — once again called up Neuer, who had retired from international duty.

Musiala was tipped to be one of the World Cup’s standout names, but is still searching for full fitness after a serious injury.  

The final squad was updated this Friday with Karl’s injury.

📸 Alexander Hassenstein - 2026 Getty Images

Havertz, Undav and Woltemade will battle for the role of main goalscorer during the World Cup. 

One of the debutants, Curaçao made waves in the coaching carousel by announcing the return of veteran Dick Advocaat, 78, the man responsible for guiding the Caribbean side to the World Cup.

In a qualifying campaign without Mexico, the USA and Canada, Curaçao came through two stages unbeaten to qualify directly — sending Jamaica to the playoffs.

Midfielder Leandro Bacuna, who had notable spells at Aston Villa and Cardiff, is one of the key figures. He will be joined by his brother Juninho. 

📸 Tim Warner - 2025 Getty Images

Ecuador, led by Sebastián Beccacece, finished behind only Argentina in qualifying.

Securing their fifth World Cup appearance.

The campaign featured only two defeats and an incredible five goals conceded across 18 matches.

They conceded one in each of the first three rounds and then were only breached again in the seventh (Brazil) and 13th (Venezuela). 

The main target is seen as achievable: at least matching their run to the round of 16 in 2006.

Center-back duo Pacho and Hincapié, both Champions League finalists, are among their biggest strengths.

📸 Gabriel Aponte - 2024 Getty Images

Moisés Caicedo is the boss of midfield. Veteran Enner Valencia is still delivering goals.

They have five players who play in Brazil: Preciado, Alan Franco and Minda (all at Atlético), Plata (Flamengo) and Félix Torres (Internacional).

Ivory Coast have just beaten an almost full-strength France before the trip to the World Cup.

A result that boosts expectations around the Elephants’ performance. 

They saw Gabon put together a strong campaign, but qualified without needing the playoffs for the fourth World Cup in their history after missing out in 2018 and 2022.

The mission: reach the knockout stage for the first time.

The new generation features several talents. Among them are Adingra and Diallo (already more experienced), Diomande and Bony.

📸 LOIC VENANCE - AFP or licensors

Kessié remains the leader when it comes to experience. He is joined by Seko Fofana, Sangaré and Pépé. 

🏆 Group F

Match Schedule 📅

June 14 - 5pm - Netherlands  x Japan

June 14 - 11pm - Sweden x Tunisia

June 20 - 2pm - Netherlands x Sweden

June 21 - 1am - Tunisia x Japan

June 26 - 8pm - Netherlands x Tunisia and Japan x Sweden

Has the long-awaited moment finally arrived for the Netherlands?

Talent has never been lacking. But the three runner-up finishes still sting. And they will try to end that drought in their 12th World Cup. 

They did not beat Poland in their qualifying group, but saw their rivals slip up more often and qualified directly.

There are 15 players from Premier League clubs (the injured Xavi Simons would have been the 16th) and several standout names.

Van Dijk, Dumfries, Frenkie de Jong, Gravenberch, Reijnders, Gakpo and Memphis carry the responsibility of leading the team once again coached by Ronald Koeman.

 Memphis, for example, has the “mission” of scoring goals in “big” games.

He became the national team’s all-time top scorer (55 goals) after surpassing Van Persie.

Japan have booked their place at the eighth World Cup in their history. 

Qualification came without scares, with Australia and Saudi Arabia left behind. 

Their best runs? Reaching the round of 16 in 2002, 2010, 2018 and 2022.

An increasingly “European” Japan side features several standout players at important clubs on the Old Continent.

Endo (Liverpool), Kubo (Sociedad), Dōan (Eintracht), Kamada (Palace), Ueda (Feyenoord) and Maeda (Celtic) are among the main hopes. 

Sweden had an embarrassing qualifying campaign (zero wins and bottom of the group), but got a second chance thanks to their Nations League performance.

They beat Ukraine and Poland in the playoffs to secure a place at the 13th World Cup in their history — returning after missing Qatar.

They were runners-up to Brazil in 1958 and also reached three other semi-finals.

Their last good campaign was in 2018, when they made the quarter-finals. 

📸 Linnea Rheborg - 2026 Getty Images

It is undeniable that most of the talent is in attack: Gyökeres — scorer of 158 goals for clubs over the last five seasons — Isak and Elanga. 

Tunisia have reached a World Cup for the seventh time — the third in a row.

They had the most dominant qualifying campaign in Africa. 

Only six call-ups play in the country: 28 points from a possible 30. 

Talbi and Abdi, who play in France, are defensive assets.

📸 SAMEER AL-DOUMY - AFP or licensors

No. 10 Hannibal Mejbri, developed at United and now at Burnley, is the main midfield reference alongside Eintracht Frankfurt’s Ellyes Skhiri.

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇧🇷 here.

📸 Alexander Hassenstein - 2026 Getty Images