Germany got into a supposedly easy group in the World Cup draw. The opening game is, like in 2010, Mexico against South Africa. All World Cup groups at a glance.
The DFB team plays its first group game on June 14th against Curaçao. The game takes place in Philadelphia or Houston. After that, they will go to either Kansas City or Toronto, Canada, for the encounter against Ivory Coast on June 20th. The last group game against Ecuador will take place on June 25th in Philadelphia or New York/New Jersey.
Julian Nagelsmann: “Feasible group”
“It’s not a super easy group, but it’s a doable group“, said national coach Nagelsmann on ZDF after the two-hour ceremony in Washington. “We would like to win the group stage games.”
The DFB team’s group games will all take place in the two eastern time zones of North America. Here the time difference to Germany is six to seven hours. If it’s 9 p.m. in Germany, it’s 2 p.m. in Houston and 3 p.m. in New York.
France and Brazil possible Round of 16 opponents
If they win the group, vice world champion France could wait in the round of 16. If Germany only comes second, record world champions Brazil would be considered opponents in the second knockout round.
“The most important thing is to get through the group phase step by step and move on to the knockout phase“said Nagelsmann at MagentaSport. “Don’t take the second step before the first. That deserves respect.” The national coach also explained: “But I think it’s also completely normal to think about who might face you in the next rounds and who you have to beat to go far.”
The game plan won’t be available until tomorrow
The exact game plan has not yet been determined. FIFA will not announce all kick-off times and venues until tomorrow at 6 p.m. at another event in Washington DC. There will probably be play dates that are after midnight.
FIFA promises at least: “Care will be taken to ensure the best possible conditions for all teams and spectators and to offer fans worldwide the opportunity to follow their teams’ games live across different time zones.” FIFA Vice President Victor Montagliani from Canada recently said: “Will every game be absolutely perfect in terms of kick-off time and TV coverage? I don’t know.”
The venues of the 2026 World Cup
All World Cup groups at a glance
Group A
- Mexico
- South Africa
- South Korea
- UEFA Playoff D
Group B
- Canada
- UEFA Playoff A
- Qatar
- Switzerland
Group C
- Brazil
- Morocco
- Haiti
- Scotland
Group D
- USA
- Paraguay
- Australia
- UEFA Playoff C
Group E
- Germany
- Curaçao
- Ivory Coast
- Ecuador
Group F
- Netherlands
- Japan
- UEFA Playoff B
- Tunisia
Group G
- Belgium
- Egypt
- Iran
- New Zealand
Group H
- Spain
- Cape Verde
- Saudi Arabia
- Uruguay
Group I
- France
- Senegal
- FIFA playoff 2
- Norway
Group J
- Argentina
- Algeria
- Austria
- Jordan
Group K
- Portugal
- FIFA playoff 1
- Uzbekistan
- Colombia
Group L
- England
- Croatia
- Ghana
- Panama
These teams play in the playoffs
- UEFA playoff A: Italy, Northern Ireland, Wales and Bosnia/Herzegovina
- UEFA Playoff B: Ukraine, Sweden, Poland and Albania
- UEFA Playoff C: Türkiye, Romania, Slovakia and Kosovo
- UEFA playoff D: Denmark, North Macedonia, Czech Republic and Ireland
- FIFA Playoff 1: DR Congo, New Caledonia and Jamaica
- FIFA Playoff 2: Iraq, Bolivia and Suriname
5:45 p.m