Group E: Germany, Curacao, Ivory Coast, Ecuador. Germany are the clear favourites, but Ecuador's defence, the Ivory Coast's athleticism and debutants Curacao's fearlessness make the second slot a real scrap.
Key stats of each team
Below are numbers from each team's recent matches, computed from the ScanGoal database. Each card ends with auto-insights — what stands out in the data.
Germany last 12 months · 10 matches| Goals for/game | 2.6 |
| Goals against/game | 0.9 |
| Over 2.5 goals | 60% |
| Both teams score | 30% |
| Corners/game | 7.3 |
| Yellow cards/game | 1.1 |
| Shots on target/game | 6.7 |
- a high-scoring side: over 2.5 goals in 60% of games
- a strong attack — 2.6 goals per game
- often one-sided for goals: both teams score in just 30%
- works the flanks — 7.3 corners per game
- disciplined — only 1.1 yellows per game
Curacao last 12 months · 13 matches| Goals for/game | 2.0 |
| Goals against/game | 1.2 |
| Over 2.5 goals | 54% |
| Both teams score | 54% |
| Corners/game | 3.8 |
| Yellow cards/game | 1.5 |
| Shots on target/game | 5.5 |
- a strong attack — 2.0 goals per game
- few corners — 3.8 per game
Ivory Coast last 12 months · 15 matches| Goals for/game | 1.8 |
| Goals against/game | 0.6 |
| Over 2.5 goals | 47% |
| Both teams score | 27% |
| Corners/game | 5.8 |
| Yellow cards/game | 1.3 |
| Shots on target/game | 4.9 |
- a tight defence — just 0.6 conceded per game
- often one-sided for goals: both teams score in just 27%
Ecuador last 12 months · 11 matches| Goals for/game | 0.8 |
| Goals against/game | 0.5 |
| Over 2.5 goals | 9% |
| Both teams score | 45% |
| Corners/game | 3.5 |
| Yellow cards/game | 1.6 |
| Shots on target/game | 3.3 |
- tilts under: under 2.5 goals in 91% of games
- a tight defence — just 0.5 conceded per game
- blunt in attack — only 0.8 goals per game
- few corners — 3.5 per game
Form going in
Germany — recent form WWWWWW| 31.05.26 | Germany 4:0 Finland | Friendlies |
| 30.03.26 | Germany 2:1 Ghana | Friendlies |
| 27.03.26 | Switzerland 3:4 Germany | International Match |
| 17.11.25 | Germany 6:0 Slovakia | Nations League |
| 14.11.25 | Luxembourg 0:2 Germany | Nations League |
| 13.10.25 | Northern Ireland 0:1 Germany | Nations League |
Curacao — recent form WDWDLL| 30.05.26 | Scotland 4:1 Curacao | International Match |
| 31.03.26 | Australia 5:1 Curacao | Friendlies |
| 19.11.25 | Jamaica 0:0 Curacao | Central America - World Cup Qualifying |
| 14.11.25 | Bermuda 0:7 Curacao | Central America - World Cup Qualifying |
| 15.10.25 | Curacao 1:1 Trinidad and Tobago | Central America - World Cup Qualifying |
| 11.10.25 | Curacao 2:0 Jamaica | Central America - World Cup Qualifying |
Who goes through
Germany top the group barring disaster. Ecuador, one of the most miserly defences in qualifying, are best placed for second; the Ivory Coast, recent AFCON winners, are right behind and can pip them with one good result.
Dark horse & possible upset
Curacao are the story of the group — a tiny island nation at a World Cup. Realistically the upset to watch is Ivory Coast beating Ecuador to second; their ceiling is higher than their seeding.
Squads: call-ups & shocks
Germany welcome back 40-year-old Manuel Neuer as Julian Nagelsmann's first-choice keeper. Bayern teenager Lennart Karl and Maximilian Beier are the surprise inclusions, while the cuts are brutal: Marc-André ter Stegen, Serge Gnabry, Karim Adeyemi, Niclas Füllkrug and Robert Andrich all miss out — Füllkrug reportedly because his hold-up style doesn't fit Nagelsmann's faster, higher-tempo attack. Sources: Bundesliga, Yahoo Sports.
Betting angles
Ecuador's elite goals-against number screams unders and clean sheets. Germany fixtures point to overs and team-total overs. Two very different betting profiles in one group.
Remember: totals, corners and cards are markets where our national-team data is most useful. Cross-check live odds and our Value Picks of the day; the handicap mechanics are covered in our Asian handicap guide.
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