Overview
- Germany will face Curaçao, Ivory Coast and Ecuador in Group E, which coach Julian Nagelsmann called demanding yet manageable.
- The March 30 friendly against Ivory Coast in Stuttgart has been scrapped after the draw placed both nations in the same group, and the DFB is seeking a replacement; matches on May 31 vs Finland in Mainz and June 6 vs the United States in Chicago remain on the calendar.
- Nagelsmann and sporting director Rudi Völler are narrowing U.S. base‑camp options in the Eastern and Central regions to minimize travel, with a decision due by mid‑January.
- Opponent snapshots: Curaçao arrives as a World Cup debutant and the smallest nation ever to qualify, Ivory Coast enters as African champion after a defensively flawless qualifying run, and Ecuador finished second in CONMEBOL with leaders Enner Valencia, Moisés Caicedo and Piero Hincapié.
- Germany’s group games are slated for June 14 vs Curaçao, June 20 vs Ivory Coast and June 25 vs Ecuador, while media bracket projections flag a possible early knockout meeting with France that Nagelsmann dismisses as premature talk.