FIFA World Cup: All you need to know about Group E

Germany open their tournament against Curaçao. Ecuador brings strong recent qualifying consistency. Germany and Ecuador have the history and edge to qualify

Four-time champions Germany and South American heavyweights Ecuador are favorites, facing African giants Ivory Coast and debutants Curaçao.

Germany will be competing at their 21st FIFA World Cup, with their best finish being four tournament victories, most recently in 2014. The European nation was at the last tournament in Qatar.

Curaçao will be competing at their very first World Cup, celebrating an unprecedented milestone for the Caribbean island nation.

Ivory Coast will be competing in their fourth World Cup, returning to the tournament for the first time since 2014, having never progressed past the group stage.

Ecuador will be playing at their fifth FIFA World Cup, coming directly from their group-stage run in Qatar. Their best-ever run at the tournament was a Round of 16 finish in 2006.

The favorites to finish top two in this group are Germany and Ecuador, while Ivory Coast may qualify as one of the best third-placed teams.

Groups A to L feature a mix of traditional heavyweights, historic rivalries, and four tournament debutants. Under the expanded 48-team format, the top two teams from each group plus the eight best third-place finishers will advance to the Round of 32.