Ecuador will be hoping to secure a spot in the knockout stages of the 2026 World Cup when they face Germany on Thursday at 9pm (UK time).
Germany have already booked their places in the last-32 and are Group E winners after two matches. They opened the World Cup with their joint-biggest win, beating Curacao 7-1. Top spot was secured with a slender last-minute victory over Ivory Coast. Due to the head-to-head record now being the first tiebreaker, Germany cannot be caught at the top.
Ecuador will be hoping to benefit from the fact that Germany have nothing to play for. The South American side lost their opening game against Ivory Coast, conceding a 90th-minute winner from Amad Diallo. And they were then held to a goalless draw by Curacao, one of the biggest results of the tournament so far. But Ecuador can still qualify for the knockout stages. They need to beat Germany and hope that Curacao beat Ivory Coast without a massive goal difference swing to secure second. A win alone will likely be enough to qualify as one of the best third-placed sides.
These sides have met just twice before, with Germany winning both meetings. That includes a clash at the 2006 World Cup.
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Ecuador vs Germany team news
Ecuador team news
Sebastian Beccacece swapped to a back three for Ecuador’s draw against Curacao, and he may keep that formation as he goes all out for victory. Ecuador fans will want to see changes in attack given the fact their side are yet to score a goal. But Beccacece has been keeping blind faith in captain Enner Valencia and Gonzalo Plata.
Moises Caicedo remains a key member of the team in midfield and will be one of the central three. He was joined by Pedro Vite and Jordy Alcivar last time out, and that trio is expected to continue. Pervis Estupinan was one of the players to gain from the switch if formation, getting his first start in the second game. He should continue at left wing-back, with John Yeboah on the right.
Joel Ordonez dropped out of the defence from the first game, and he’s unlikely to get back into the team. Alan Franco was deployed as the right-sided centre-back and was able to play wider giving his recent full-back experience. Willian Pacho and Piero Hincapie should make up the rest of the defence, with Hernan Galindez in goal.
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Germany team news
Julian Nagelsmann has the chance to rotate for this game, and he could make a handful of changes. Deniz Undav will hope to benefit after his two goals against Ivory Coast, getting a start ahead of Jamal Musiala in the No.10. Nick Woltemade is yet to make an appearance at the World Cup but could lead the line to give Kai Havertz a rest.
There will be an enforced change in the defence as Nico Schlotterbeck has been ruled out for the rest of the World Cup due to injury. He’ll be replaced by Antonio Rudiger, who could still be partnered in the defence by Jonathan Tah. David Raum will hope to get a chance at left-back, but Joshua Kimmich may continue on the right. Manuel Neuer is also unlikely to be dropped in goal.
Leon Goretzka could also get a start as part of the double pivot, alongside Nadiem Amiri. They have been the favoured substitutes and look to be the backups for Felix Nmecha and Aleksandar Pavlovic. Jamie Leweling will hope to start on the right, and Florian Wirtz could be enough to keep his spot.
Ecuador vs Germany predicted lineups
Ecuador (3-5-2): Galindez; Franco, Hincapie, Pacho; Yeboah, M Caicedo, Vite, Alcivar, Estupinan; Plata, Valencia.
Germany (4-2-3-1): Neuer; Kimmich, Tah, Rudiger, Raum; Goretzka, Amiri; Leweling, Undav, Wirtz; Woltemade.
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