World Cup guide: everything you need to know about Group E | OneFootball

The World Cup is just around the corner! With the countdown inching ever closer to zero, Playmaker is stepping up to present the 48 participating teams across 12 articles - one for each group in the competition. From likely starting XIs to the key players to watch, we've got everything you need to know ahead of the biggest competition in world football.

We continue our analysis of all the groups and all the participants in this World Cup with Group E. This is one of the competition's most distinctive groups: it is one of the seven groups featuring representatives from four different continents, and it includes both a former winner and a debutant.

Ecuador, Curaçao, Ivory Coast, and Germany. On paper at least, German power stands out: Germany's four World Cup titles are equal to or greater than the number of appearances in the competition to date of all the other teams in the group combined — Ecuador (4); Ivory Coast (3); Curaçao (0).

Despite the Europeans being favourites, the battle for qualification promises to be exciting. Ivory Coast appear to have the edge thanks to the names in their ranks, but Ecuador have several world-class players and the lesser-known Curaçao are aiming to make history.

Ecuador

Number of appearances: 4

Best finish: Round of 16

This is Ecuador's fifth World Cup appearance and, most likely, the one in which Ecuadorian expectations are at their highest. Many see this squad as the golden generation of football in the country.

In the always tricky South American qualifying campaign, Ecuador finished second — even after being docked three points over the forged Byron Castillo document case in 2022 — and, across 18 matches, were beaten only twice (by Argentina and Brazil). At the latest Copa América in 2024, Sebastián Beccacece's side reached the quarter-finals, where they lost to Argentina again on penalties.

Ecuador has never produced so much talent. Hincapié and Pacho are undisputed starters for clubs that reached the Champions League final, Moisés Caicedo is the midfield engine for the Club World Cup champions, and Nilson Angulo is making his mark in the Premier League. There is also the wonderkid Kendry Paez, defenders Joel Ordóñez and Estupiñán, and the experienced goalscorer Enner Valencia. 

The manager - Sebastián Beccacece

Beccacece arrived in charge of the national team in 2024, succeeding Félix Sánchez, and Ecuador's progress also owes much to his touch. The 45-year-old Argentine arrived from Elche and already knows what it means to go to a World Cup. In 2014, in Brazil, he was Sampaoli's right-hand man with Chile. In two years, he has already beaten Argentina and Colombia and drawn with Brazil and the Netherlands.

The key man - Moisés Caicedo

A defensive midfielder with an enormous range across the pitch. He covers a lot of ground, is very quick and passes well: naturally, that's why Chelsea paid Brighton so much for his signature. Ecuador's defence is the team's strongest unit and, with Caicedo in front of it, it will be hard to play through the final third.

One to watch - Kendry Páez

A huge talent with massive potential, but still trying to establish himself at the very top level. Kendry Páez made his senior debut at 16, was signed by Chelsea but never got to wear the Blues shirt. Still a teenager at 19, he has a stage to show what he can do and confirm his promise on the biggest stage of all.

Other key players: Piero Hincapié, Enner Valencia, Willian Pacho, Nilson Angulo, Joel Ordóñez, Pervis Estupiñán.

Curaçao

Number of appearances: 0

Best finish: -

One of three debutant teams at this World Cup, Curaçao qualified top of Group B in the CONCACAF qualifying campaign, ahead of Jamaica, Trinidad and Tobago and Bermuda.

The former Dutch colony — better known as a holiday destination than for the beautiful game — has managed to unearth some talent with links to the country, as the island's population of around 170,000 in the south of the Caribbean Sea makes for a small recruitment pool for a team aiming to compete at a World Cup.

Of the 26 players called up for the tournament, only one (Tahith Chong) was born on the island. The others all have family roots in Curaçao, but were born and raised in the Netherlands. A fantastic story.

The manager - Dick Advocaat

A wily old fox attempting a Cinderella story. This will be Dick Advocaat's third World Cup, with a third different national team, after taking charge of the Netherlands at the last World Cup held in the United States in 1994 — 32 years ago — and the Republic of Korea in 2006, in Germany. He stepped away from the team for three months for personal reasons, but returned in time to make history.

The key man - Tahith Chong

Curacao's reference point is, fittingly, the only man born on the island. Tahith Chong is a recent international — he played youth football for the Netherlands — but has already made his mark: three goals in five games have turned him into something of a cult hero. Once one of the biggest prospects at Carrington — Manchester United's academy — but has yet to reach the level once predicted for him just yet.

One to watch - Armando Obispo

Obispo has one of the best CVs in the Curaçao squad. At 27, he has spent his entire career at PSV and has been one of the most consistent players in the Eindhoven side in recent years. A left-footed centre-back, quick and physically imposing. He can bring security.

Other key players: Riechedly Bazoer, Juninho Bacuna, Jurgen Locadia, Kenji Gorré

Ivory Coast

Number of appearances: 3 

Best finish: Group stage

Twelve years later, the Elephants are back on football's biggest international stage. After three consecutive World Cups (2006, 2010 and 2014), Ivory Coast went through difficult times in recent years but have returned strongly with a promising generation. 

The aim is to reach the knockout stage for the first time. In a group with Ecuador and Curaçao – teams of a similar level or below — there is hope of a historic qualification for the last 16.

There are several top-class names in this Ivory Coast squad. In defence, Diomande, Singo and Ndicka are the strongest options. Kessié, Seko Fofana and Sangaré are three very capable midfielders and, up front, the options are even wider: Amad Diallo, Yan Diomande, Yoan Bonny, Guessand, Adingra, among others.

The manager - Emerse Faé

The man behind Ivory Coast's return to the World Cup is Emerse Faé. The Franco-Ivorian coach spent several years in Nice's academy before joining Ivory Coast as Jean-Louis Gasset's assistant in 2022. After the experienced Frenchman left, Faé took over and has produced good results. He won the 2023 AFCON, qualified for the World Cup and was knocked out by Egypt in the quarter-finals of AFCON 2025. 

The key man - Amad Diallo

The star of the show. Manchester United player Amad Diallo has everything it takes to be one of the standout figures at this World Cup, provided Ivory Coast can also be consistent in the competition. From the left or the right, he is a tricky winger who can also score goals with ease. Left-footed, and also experienced as a wing-back in a back five after spending time there under previous club manager Ruben Amorim. His technical quality, together with that of the rest of the Elephants' attack, could be one of the main attractions of the tournament. 

One to watch - Yan Diomande

After an excellent season at RB Leipzig, Yan Diomande should be one of the talents European giants will be keeping a close eye on in this tournament. His technical quality is impressive, his dribbling is outstanding — it looks as if he is gliding across the pitch — and he has been scoring goals. He has everything it takes to be one of the big transfer sagas of next season. 

Other key players: Seko Fofana, Franck Kessié, Ousmane Diomande, Ibrahim Sangaré

Germany

Number of appearances: 20

Best finish: Winners (1954, 1974, 1990, 2014) 

Whenever Germany go into a World Cup, it is hard not to place them among the favourites. Die Mannschaft are the second-most successful nation in World Cup history and they have another highly talented generation.

Without the stars of old, today's Germany rely on the collective. Even so, players such as Wirtz and Musiala ensure the Germans' matches will be highly entertaining, thanks to their ability to do things on the pitch that others simply cannot.

One of the new features for this World Cup is the return of Manuel Neuer. The goalkeeper had retired from international duty but came back for one last dance on the big stage. Kimmich is the main reference among the outfield players, with Rüdiger, Tah, Sané, Havertz and Goretzka following the same path. 

After exiting at the group stage four and eight years ago, it is imperative that Germany go far in the competition.

The manager - Julian Nagelsmann

Nagelsmann succeeded Hansi Flick after the disaster in Qatar (which followed the disaster in Russia) and gave the German side a better direction. Germany fell in the quarter-finals of the last Euros to eventual winners Spain, in the last minute of extra time, and lost at home in the Nations League semi-finals to eventual winners Portugal. Qualifying was almost flawless: defeat on matchday one, victories in every other game. Nagelsmann has built a new core and they are ready to conquer the Americas.

The key man - Joshua Kimmich

He is not the most dazzling, the quickest or the strongest, but Joshua Kimmich is the true soul of the German team. He has the classic German DNA: tenacious, consistent, and intelligent. The 31-year-old Bayern Munich midfielder can play as a holding midfielder in Nagelsmann's double pivot, or even at right-back. One of the most experienced players and the team’s leader on the pitch.

One to watch - Florian Wirtz

If it wasn't for injury, we'd be waxing lyrical about Lennart Karl here but instead this World Cup might well help get Florian Wirtz back on his feet. The creative midfielder arrived in the Premier League with great expectations after his performances for Bayer Leverkusen but it took a long time for him to settle. However, the 23-year-old improved for the second half of the season and a positive summer going into a brand new season could help him show his very best form.

Other key players: Jamal Musiala, Antonio Rüdiger, Jonathan Tah, Leroy Sané and Kai Havertz.

Group E at the World Cup