Group E features European giants Germany, Ivory Coast, Ecuador and Curacao
Germany start the tournament against minnows Curacao
Ivory Coast take on Ecuador in Philadelphia
Follow every World Cup 2026 score with LiveScore including Germany vs Curacao and Ivory Coast vs Tunisia.
Germany should enjoy a straightforward night at the office when they take on Curacao in their Group E opener, hours before the Ivory Coast do battle with Ecuador.
Here we pick out the best bets for the first round of games in Group E.
Best Bets:
Kai Havertz to score two or more goals @ 5/2
Ivory Coast vs Ecuador - Draw @ 7/4
Germany vs Curacao (Sunday, 6pm)
After crashing out of the last two World Cups in the group stages, Germany have a point to prove this summer. Thankfully, for them, the fixture list has been kind and handed them Curacao in the first round of matches.
Curacao has surpassed Iceland as the smallest nation to reach a World Cup and they will be led by former Rangers boss Dick Advocaat. Their squad does have some players who have played in the Premier League and Eredivisie, but they will be up against it from the first whistle.
Arsenal ace Kai Havertz is expected to lead the line for Germany and he could give himself a chance of winning the Golden Boot by racking up the goals in the opening round.
Germany have won nine games in a row, while Curacao have been well beaten in recent friendlies against Scotland, Australia and China.
Scotland and Australia scored four and five goals against Curacao, respectively, so with Havertz at the heart of Germany's frontline, he can do some damage.
Score prediction: Germany 5-0 Curacao
See the latest Germany vs Curacao odds on LiveScore Bet
Ivory Coast vs Ecuador (Monday, 12am)
The two contenders for second place in Group E meet in Philadelphia and neither side will want to give anything away.
Both the Ivory Coast and Ecuador will expect to beat Curacao, so the outcome of this match could go a long way to deciding the final standings.
The Ivory Coast have never advanced from the group stages of the World Cup and they will struggle to score past an Ecuador side that have drawn nine of their last 13 games.
Ecuador only conceded five goals in 18 qualifiers, while the Ivory Coast have kept clean sheets in three of their last four and beat France 2-1 in their other friendly.
Both teams are capable and strong at the back and with so much riding on this contest, there's every chance they cancel each other out in a stalemate at Lincoln Financial Field, which would not be a bad result for either team.
Score prediction: Ivory Coast 0-0 Ecuador
See the latest Ivory Coast vs Ecuador odds on LiveScore Bet
See all World Cup 2026 fixtures and group tables.
