ITโS ALMOST TIME!
The 2026 World Cup will get underway subsequent Thursday (11).
After the breakdown of and , it’s now time for 2 extra: E and F.
Which function and the , for instance.
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The highest two groups in every group will advance to the preliminary spherical of 32 together with the eight finest third-placed groups.
See under how the groups in these teams are shaping up and have your say: who ought to qualify?
๐ Group E
Match Scheduleย ๐
June 14 – 2pm – Germany x Curaรงao
June 14 – 8pm – Ivory Coast x Ecuador
June 20 – 5pm – Germany x Ivory Coast
June 20 – 9pm – Ecuador x Curaรงao
June 25 – 5pm – Germany x Ecuador and Curaรงao x Ivory Coast
4-time champions, runners-up on 4 different events, and absent solely from the 1930 and 1950 editions, Germany have one main mission among the many sportโs heavyweights: keep away from one other embarrassment.
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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 marketing campaign started with the shock of a defeat to Slovakia, however the ticket was secured straight.
Julian Nagelsmann โ in cost since September 2023 โ as soon as once more known as up , who had retired from worldwide obligation.
was tipped to be one of many World Cupโs standout names, however remains to be trying to find full health after a critical damage.
The ultimate squad was up to date this Friday with .
๐ธ Alexander Hassenstein – 2026 Getty Photos
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, andย Woltemade will battle for the function of fundamental goalscorer throughout the World Cup.
One of many debutants, Curaรงao made waves within the teaching carousel by asserting the return of veteran Dick Advocaat, 78, the person liable for guiding the Caribbean aspect to the World Cup.
In a qualifying marketing campaign with out , the USA and , Curaรงao got here via two levels unbeaten to qualify straight โ sending to the playoffs.
Midfielder , who had notable spells at and Cardiff, is among the key figures. He will likely be joined by his brother Juninho.
๐ธ Tim Warner – 2025 Getty Photos
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Ecuador, led by Sebastiรกn Beccacece, completed behind solely in qualifying.
Securing their fifth World Cup look.
The marketing campaign featured solely two defeats and an unbelievable 5 objectives conceded throughout 18 matches.
They conceded one in every of the primary three rounds after which have been solely breached once more within the seventh () and thirteenth (Venezuela).
The principle goal is seen as achievable: at the very least matching their run to the spherical of 16 in 2006.
Middle-back duo Pacho andย Hincapiรฉ, each Champions League finalists, are amongst their greatest strengths.
๐ธ Gabriel Aponte – 2024 Getty Photos
Moisรฉs Caicedo is the boss of midfield. Veteran remains to be delivering objectives.
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They’ve 5 gamers who play in Brazil: Preciado, Alan Franco and (all at Atlรฉtico), Plata (Flamengo) and Fรฉlix Torres (Internacional).
Ivory Coast have simply overwhelmed an virtually full-strength earlier than the journey to the World Cup.
A outcome that enhances expectations across the Elephantsโ efficiency.
They noticed Gabon put collectively a robust marketing campaign, however certified without having the playoffs for the fourth World Cup of their historical past after lacking out in 2018 and 2022.
The mission: attain the knockout stage for the primary time.
The brand new technology options a number of skills. Amongst them are and Diallo (already extra skilled), and Bony.
๐ธ LOIC VENANCE – AFP or licensors
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Kessiรฉ stays the chief with regards to expertise. He’s joined by ,ย Sangarรฉ and Pรฉpรฉ.
๐ Group F
Match Scheduleย ๐
June 14 – 5pm – Netherlandsย 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 second lastly arrived for the Netherlands?
Expertise has by no means been missing. However the three runner-up finishes nonetheless sting. And they’re going to attempt to finish that drought of their twelfth World Cup.
They didn’t beat Poland of their qualifying group, however noticed their rivals slip up extra typically and certified straight.
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There are 15 gamers from Premier League golf equipment (the injured would have been the sixteenth) and a number of other standout names.
,ย Dumfries, ,ย ,ย Reijnders,ย and Memphis carry the duty of main the group as soon as once more coached by Ronald Koeman.
Memphis, for instance, has the โmissionโ of scoring objectives in โhugeโ video games.
He grew to become the nationwide groupโs all-time high scorer (55 objectives) after surpassing .
Japan have booked their place on the eighth World Cup of their historical past.
Qualification got here with out scares, with and left behind.
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Their finest runs? Reaching the spherical of 16 in 2002, 2010, 2018 and 2022.
An more and more โEuropeanโ Japan aspect options a number of standout gamers at necessary golf equipment on the Previous Continent.
Endo (), (Sociedad),ย Dลan (Eintracht), (Palace), (Feyenoord) and Maeda (Celtic) are among the many fundamental hopes.
Sweden had an embarrassing qualifying marketing campaign (zero wins and backside of the group), however received a second likelihood because of their Nations League efficiency.
They beat Ukraine and Poland within the playoffs to safe a spot on the thirteenth World Cup of their historical past โ returning after lacking .
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They have been runners-up to Brazil in 1958 and in addition reached three different semi-finals.
Their final good marketing campaign was in 2018, once they made the quarter-finals.
๐ธ Linnea Rheborg – 2026 Getty Photos
It’s simple that a lot of the expertise is in assault:ย Gyรถkeres โ scorer of 158 objectives for golf equipment over the past 5 seasons โ and .
Tunisia have reached a World Cup for the seventh time โ the third in a row.
That they had essentially the most dominant qualifying marketing campaign in Africa.
Solely six call-ups play within the nation: 28 factors from a potential 30.
Talbi and Abdi, who play in France, are defensive property.
๐ธ SAMEER AL-DOUMY – AFP or licensors
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No. 10 , developed at United and now at Burnley, is the principle midfield reference alongsideย โs .
This text was translated into English by Synthetic Intelligence.