Group E teams
Quick profile, key man and betting angle for each side. Squads can be opened for the full 26-man list.
Four-time champions
Germany
Manager: Julian Nagelsmann · FIFA rank: 10 · Route: UEFA Group A winners · Last World Cup: 2022 · Best result: Winners (1954, 1974, 1990, 2014)
Germany chase a first World Cup title since 2014 and a first knockout-stage win since the same year. Nagelsmann has rebuilt the side around a young attack — Wirtz, Musiala, Havertz, Sane — with Kimmich anchoring midfield and Rudiger leading at the back. The qualifying campaign was strong; the question is whether the depth holds up across seven matches.
Key man: Florian Wirtz (Liverpool) — the creative engine.
Betting angle: Short for group winner. Outright winner price is around 10/1 — not value but defensible. Wirtz and Musiala both heavily backed in player markets.
Germany full squad
GK: Oliver Baumann, Manuel Neuer, Alexander Nubel.
DF: Waldemar Anton, Nathaniel Brown, David Raum, Antonio Rudiger, Nico Schlotterbeck, Jonathan Tah, Malick Thiaw.
MF: Pascal Gross, Joshua Kimmich, Felix Nmecha, Aleksandar Pavlovic, Angelo Stiller, Leon Goretzka, Florian Wirtz, Jamie Leweling.
FW: Maximilian Beier, Kai Havertz, Assan Ouédraogo, Jamal Musiala, Leroy Sane, Deniz Undav, Nick Woltemade.
South American qualifier
Ecuador
Manager: Sebastian Beccacece · FIFA rank: 24 · Route: CONMEBOL runners-up · Last World Cup: 2022 · Best result: Round of 16 (2006)
Ecuador finished second in CONMEBOL qualifying behind Argentina — remarkable form. The squad is one of the most European-tested outside the seeded teams: Caicedo at Chelsea, Pacho at PSG, Estupinan at AC Milan, Hincapie at Arsenal. Beccacece’s side defends in a low block and counters with pace through Caicedo and Kendry Paez.
Key man: Moises Caicedo (Chelsea) — the engine and the most-valuable player in the squad.
Betting angle: Ecuador to qualify is short, and rightly so. The value play is Ecuador to finish second in the group.
Ecuador full squad
GK: Hernan Galindez, Moises Ramirez, Gonzalo Valle.
DF: Piero Hincapie, Willian Pacho, Pervis Estupinan, Felix Torres, Joel Ordonez, Jackson Porozo, Angelo Preciado.
MF: Moises Caicedo, Alan Franco, Kendry Paez, Pedro Vite, Jordy Alcivar, Denil Castillo, Yaimar Medina.
FW: Enner Valencia, Kevin Rodriguez, Jordy Caicedo, Nilson Angulo, Anthony Valencia, Jeremy Arevalo.
AFCON champions
Ivory Coast
Manager: Emerse Fae · FIFA rank: 34 · Route: CAF Group F winners · Last World Cup: 2014 · Best result: Group stage (2006, 2010, 2014)
Ivory Coast’s first World Cup since 2014, and Emerse Fae brings them with the confidence of recent AFCON winners. The squad is loaded with Premier League names — Amad Diallo at Man Utd, Ibrahim Sangare at Nottingham Forest, Evann Guessand at Aston Villa — plus Wilfried Singo, Franck Kessie and Nicolas Pepe still adding experience. Pace and physicality are the strengths.
Key man: Amad Diallo (Manchester United) — the attacking spark.
Betting angle: Ivory Coast to qualify (third-place route) is the most-bet angle. Amad Diallo anytime goalscorer in every group match is a popular pick.
Ivory Coast full squad
GK: Yahia Fofana, Mohamed Kone, Alban Lafont.
DF: Emmanuel Agbadou, Clement Akpa, Ousmane Diomande, Guela Doue, Ghislain Konan, Odilon Kossounou, Evan Ndicka, Wilfried Singo.
MF: Seko Fofana, Parfait Guiagon, Christ Inao Oulai, Franck Kessie, Ibrahim Sangare, Jean-Michael Seri.
FW: Simon Adingra, Ange-Yoan Bonny, Amad Diallo, Oumar Diakite, Yan Diomande, Evann Guessand, Nicolas Pepe, Bazoumana Toure, Elye Wahi.
World Cup debutants
Curacao
Manager: Dick Advocaat · FIFA rank: 82 · Route: CONCACAF Group B winners · Last World Cup: Debut · Best result: n/a
One of the best stories of the tournament. Curacao, with a population of around 150,000, qualify for their first ever World Cup. Dick Advocaat — veteran of Netherlands, Russia, South Korea and Belgium managerial spells — returns to a World Cup at 78. The squad is heavily Dutch-system trained, with Tahith Chong, Armando Obispo and Eloy Room the headline names.
Key man: Tahith Chong (Sheffield United) — the most recognisable Premier League-pedigree name.
Betting angle: Realistically a three-match tournament for Curacao. The Cinderella story is the upset in the Ecuador group-stage match — that’s the value angle.
Curacao full squad
GK: Tyrick Bodak, Trevor Doornbusch, Eloy Room.
DF: Riechedly Bazoer, Joshua Brenet, Roshon van Eijma, Sherel Floranus, Deveron Fonville, Jurien Gaari, Armando Obispo, Shurandy Sambo.
MF: Juninho Bacuna, Leandro Bacuna, Livano Comenencia, Kevin Felida, Ar’Jany Martha, Tyrese Noslin, Godfried Roemeratoe.
FW: Jeremy Antonisse, Tahith Chong, Kenji Gorre, Sontje Hansen, Gervane Kastaneer, Brandley Kuwas, Jurgen Locadia, Jearl Margaritha.
