The draw is complete, and the matchups are set! The German national team (DFB-Team) will compete in Group E of the 2026 World Cup, which kicks off on June 11th next year across the USA, Canada, and Mexico. After two disappointing tournaments, the German squad is aiming to advance and pursue their dream of winning the title.
Germany’s journey begins against Curacao. On the second matchday, they will face Ivory Coast, and their final group stage game will be against Ecuador. This draw suggests a relatively favorable group for coach Julian Nagelsmann’s team.
This marks the first time 48 teams will participate in a World Cup, leading to an extensive schedule of 104 matches. Some days will feature up to six games across four different kick-off windows. While many matches will have convenient kick-off times for German viewers, such as 6 PM, 9 PM, or 10 PM CET, some games will inevitably start later in the night or early morning, with times like 12 AM, 3 AM, or 4 AM CET, and even some starting at 6 AM CET.
Key Information: 2026 World Cup
- Competition: FIFA World Cup 2026
- Participants: 48
- Dates: June 11 — July 19, 2026
- Host Countries: USA, Canada, Mexico
2026 World Cup Schedule Overview
| Dates | Stage |
|---|---|
| June 11 — 27 | Group Stage |
| June 28 — July 3 | Round of 32 |
| July 4 — 7 | Round of 16 |
| July 9 — 11 | Quarter-finals |
| July 14 — 15 | Semi-finals |
| July 18 | Third Place Play-off |
| July 19 | Final |
2026 World Cup: All Groups at a Glance
Group A
| Mexico |
| South Africa |
| South Korea |
| Czech Republic |
Group B
| Canada |
| Bosnia and Herzegovina |
| Qatar |
| Switzerland |
Group C
| Brazil |
| Morocco |
| Haiti |
| Scotland |
Group D
| USA |
| Paraguay |
| Australia |
| Turkey |
Group E
| Germany |
| Curacao |
| Ivory Coast |
| Ecuador |
Group F
| Netherlands |
| Japan |
| Sweden |
| Tunisia |
Group G
| Belgium |
| Egypt |
| Iran |
| New Zealand |
Group H
| Spain |
| Cape Verde |
| Saudi Arabia |
| Uruguay |
Group I
| France |
| Senegal |
| Iraq |
| Norway |
Group J
| Argentina |
| Algeria |
| Austria |
| Jordan |
Group K
| Portugal |
| DR Congo |
| Uzbekistan |
| Colombia |
Group L
| England |
| Croatia |
| Ghana |
| Panama |
Kick-off Times for the 2026 World Cup in USA, Canada, and Mexico
Looking back at previous tournaments in the USA and Brazil can give us an idea of the potential kick-off times considering the time zone differences.
Kick-off Times for the 1994 World Cup in the USA:
| 5:30 PM CET |
| 6:00 PM CET (one Germany match) |
| 6:30 PM CET |
| 7:00 PM CET (one Germany match) |
| 9:00 PM CET (one Germany match) |
| 9:30 PM CET |
| 10:00 PM CET (two Germany matches) |
| 10:30 PM CET |
| 1:30 AM CET |
Kick-off Times for the 2014 World Cup in Brazil:
| 6:00 PM CET (three Germany matches) |
| 9:00 PM CET (two Germany matches) |
| 10:00 PM CET (two Germany matches) |
| 12:00 AM CET |
| 3:00 AM CET |