Germany

Germany enter World Cup 2026 in Group E, where the early tests are Ivory Coast, Ecuador, and Curacao. Germany are four-time world champions, winning in 1954, 1974, 1990, and 2014. Recent World Cups have been uneven by their standards, which makes 2026 feel like both a reset and a test of authority. The current squad is shaped around Jamal Musiala, Florian Wirtz, and Kai Havertz, a core that gives the team recognizable quality in the moments that usually decide group-stage matches: set pieces, transition attacks, and pressure around the box.

For this tournament, the assignment is both tactical and psychological: start quickly, protect the middle of the pitch, and make the group feel uncomfortable before the knockout picture forms. The talent is strong enough to control Group E, especially through Musiala and Wirtz between the lines. The bigger question is whether Germany can restore tournament ruthlessness across seven matches. If Germany can turn its best individual stretches into a full 90-minute platform, the campaign has room to grow beyond a simple participation story.