Sunday go see eight teams start dia 2026 World Cup journey, with Germany wey get plenty to prove go face tiny debutants Curaçao for di opener.
Netherlands go take on Japan for di second match, as both sides show strong form for qualifying.
Ivory Coast and Ecuador go meet for di third game, two dark-horse candidates wey get solid defense for dia qualifying campaigns.
Di day go finish as Sweden face Tunisia, two unpredictable teams.
For Houston Stadium, Germany go open dia 21st World Cup against Curaçao, a true David versus Goliath matchup for Group E.
Pressure dey on Germany to reverse dia recent World Cup struggles. After winning di final for 2014 against Argentina, dem fail to advance from group stage for 2018 and 2022.
But Germany show signs of recovery under head coach Julian Nagelsmann, wey dem hire for 2023. For Euro 2024, dem win dia group and defeat Denmark for round of 16 before losing to eventual champions Spain 2-1 for extra time.
Germany then win UEFA World Cup qualifying Group A last year over Slovakia, Northern Ireland, and Luxembourg. Dem enter di tournament ranked 10th for FIFA World Rankings.
A win over Curaçao go help Germany return to knockout stages.
Meanwhile, Curaçao go make dia World Cup debut after taking advantage of CONCACAF qualifying wey no include United States, Mexico, or Canada.
For di third round of qualifying, Curaçao win Group B over Jamaica, Trinidad & Tobago, and Bermuda unbeaten over six games with three wins and three draws.
Dat campaign move Curaçao to 82nd for latest FIFA World Rankings. Di tiny island nation be di smallest nation ever to qualify for World Cup for both population (roughly 158,000 people) and area (171 square miles).
Curaçao also be new nation by FIFA standards, only becoming independent for October 2010. Before 2010, players from Curaçao compete for Netherlands.
Dutch influence still strong for Curaçao as 25 of di team’s 26 players for World Cup team born for Netherlands. Dis include captain Leandro Bacuna and younger brother Juninho Bacuna, wey combine for 30 international goals.
Di only Curaçao player born for di country be Sheffield United attacker Tahith Chong, wey begin professional career with Manchester United for 2019. Chong progress through youth national teams of Netherlands before switching to Curaçao for August 2025 to help for final qualifiers.
Leading Curaçao be 78-year-old head coach Dick Advocaat, wey go become oldest manager for World Cup history for dis game. Dis be im third World Cup after leading Netherlands to quarterfinals for 1994 and South Korea to group stage exit for 2006.
For Netherlands versus Japan, di Dutch enter as Group F favorites. Dem impress for Euro 2024 with run to semifinals, followed by unbeaten World Cup qualifying campaign topping UEFA Group G over Poland, Finland, Malta, and Lithuania with 27 goals scored and just four conceded.
Coached by Ronald Koeman since 2023, Netherlands never win di tournament but be runner-up three times (1974, 1978, 2010).
Netherlands roster blend youth and experience, but older players remain important. Memphis Depay, 33, be di team’s leading scorer for qualifying. Virgil van Dijk, 34, remain captain for both Netherlands and Liverpool. Frenkie de Jong, 29, continue to drive di midfield for Barcelona.
Netherlands ranked 8th for FIFA World Rankings, 10 spots ahead of Japan wey enter for 18th place.
Japan full of confidence after dominating AFC World Cup qualifying with 13-2-1 record while outscoring opponents 54-3. Di Samurai Blue make dia World Cup debut for 1998 and qualify for every tournament since. Dem reach knockout stages four times but never win a knockout game.
Hajime Moriyasu coach Japan for im second straight World Cup. Injuries dey concern as Liverpool’s Wataru Endo, Brighton’s Kaoru Mitoma, and Monaco‘s Takumi Minamino miss di tournament.
Japan efforts lead by Ayase Ueda, wey lead Eredivisie with 25 goals for Feyenoord, and Daizen Maeda, wey get 16 goals and 10 assists for Celtic.
For Ivory Coast versus Ecuador, both teams feel confident for dia Group E opener for Philadelphia Stadium.
Ivory Coast qualify for World Cup three times (2006, 2010, 2014) but never make group stage. After 12-year absence, di team look improved. Les Éléphants be di youngest team at dis World Cup.
For qualifying, Ivory Coast no concede any goal, while also leading CAF region with 25 goals scored en route to winning dia group with 8-2-0 record. Nine Ivorians score at least two goals.
Ivory Coast lead by veteran Nicolas Pépé, 31, wey be top-5 nominee for La Liga Player of di Season for Villarreal where he notched eight goals and eight assists.
On younger side be RB Leipzig winger Yan Diomande, wey get interesting story. Born for Ivory Coast, Diomande move to United States as teenager and play for Yulee High School before attracting interest of Leganes for Spain. For 2025-26, he be named Bundesliga Rookie of di Season.
Ivory Coast be many people’s dark horse pick after 2-1 win over France for tune-up friendly on June 2 for Nantes.
Ecuador come into tournament feeling superior to dia FIFA World Ranking of 23. Ecuador be surprise of CONMEBOL qualifying, finishing second behind Argentina. Di strength be well-organized team defense instilled by Argentine head coach Sebastián Beccacece.
For 18 qualifiers, defense only concede five goals and keep 13 clean sheets, tying fewest goals ever conceded for CONMEBOL qualifying campaign.
Keys to Ecuador defense be Paris Saint-Germain’s Willian Pacho and Arsenal‘s Piero Hincapié.
For Sweden versus Tunisia, Sweden ranked 38 for FIFA World Rankings, be most unpredictable European team. Dem fail to qualify for 2022 World Cup after loss to Poland for playoffs, then fail for Euro 2024 and have dismal qualifying where dem finish winless and last for UEFA Group B behind Switzerland, Kosovo, and Slovenia.
But Sweden still make World Cup qualifying playoffs as one of four best Nations League group winners wey finish outside top two. For playoffs, dem respond well to new manager Graham Potter with wins over Ukraine for semifinal and then avenge loss to Poland with win for final to qualify.
Despite dat, Sweden return to uninspiring form for two pre-World Cup friendlies: 3-1 loss to Norway and 2-2 draw with Greece.
Tunisia ranked 45 for latest FIFA Rankings. Dem qualify with dominant campaign of 9-1-0, scoring 22 goals while conceding none. Dis be third straight World Cup for Carthage Eagles and seventh overall. Dem never make knockout stages, but best moment come for 2022 when dem defeat eventual champion Argentina for group finale.
Tunisia benefit from recruiting players of Tunisian descent born and raised for Europe. For 26-player roster, only 11 players born for Tunisia. Best player, Hannibal Mejbri, born for France and make 15 starts for midfield dis past season for Burnley for Premier League.
Head coach Sabri Lamouchi, born for Lyon to Tunisian parents.
