World Cup Preview: Group E
With the 2026 FIFA World Cup just one day away, we continue to preview each of the tournament's twelve groups through a Ligue 1 McDonald's lens, continuing with Group E: Germany, Curacao, Ivory Coast and Ecuador.
Germany
FIFA Ranking: 10
Current Ligue 1 McDonald's players:
There aren't any Ligue 1 McDonald's players who made Germany's final squad. Julian Nagelsmann opted against calling up Thilo Kehrer. The Monaco defender has recently made the Germany squad, unlike another of the contingent in Ligue 1 McDonald's, Paris FC's Kevin Trapp. The former PSG shotstopper has, however, previously been involved at international level.
Tournament outlook:
Germany made light work of their qualifying group, winning five out of their six games, conceding just three and scoring 16. It was, however, a favourable qualifying group. Regardless, expectations are always high for Germany, who in Qatar in 2022, fell way short of expectations, failing to progress from the Group Stage. The 2014 World champions are lacking in quality in some positions and are therefore more of an outside shout in North America.
Ligue 1 McDonald's legend: Jurgen Klinsmann
Klinsmann's time in France's top-flight was brief but he certainly made an impression. The centre-forward joined Monaco in 1992 and remained in the Principality for two seasons before moving to Tottenham Hotspur.
🇩🇪 𝐊𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐬𝐢 🔥#OnThisDay in 1993, @J_Klinsmann scored 4️⃣ against @AJA 😍 . What's your favourite Jürgen moment ? #COYS #MiaSanMia #ForzaInter #VfB #DieMannschaft pic.twitter.com/z46EckZLB1
— AS Monaco EN 🇲🇨 (@AS_Monaco_EN) January 9, 2021
The striker, capped 108 times by Germany, played 65 times in Ligue 1 McDonald's and scored 29 goals in that time. In 1994, he won the league's Player of the Season Award. Four goals came in one single game, against Auxerre, in 1993.
Curacao
FIFA Ranking: 82
Current Ligue 1 McDonald's players:
Not only are there not currently any Curacao players in the nation's World Cup squad, but there also are not any players of that nationality playing in France's top flight at all. In fact, only one Curacao player has ever played in Ligue 1 McDonald's: Charlison Benschop, formerly of Brest (2012-2014).
Tournament outlook:
The second-lowest ranked team at this summer's World Cup, Curacao's prospects of getting below the Group Stage seem low. It is an incredible feat for them even to make the tournament, given their ranking and the fact that they are the smallest nation (by size) at the tournament. They have faced a very tough draw. Germany, 2023 African champions Ivory Coast and Ecuador have all had their chances of a strong tournament bigged up.
Ligue 1 McDonald's legend: Charlison Benschop
Benschop is the only Curacao player to have ever played in Ligue 1 McDonald's. He joined Brest in 2012, spent one of his two seasons out on loan abroad, and made 27 appearances for the Breton club (five goals, two assists).
IVORY COAST
FIFA Ranking: 33
Current Ligue 1 McDonald's players:
There were four Ivory Coast players included in the squad who played in France's top-flight last season: Guéla Doué, Simon Adingra, Clement Akpa, and Elye Wahi. Wahi, however, was only on loan at Nice, and he will not remain. Adingra was at Monaco, on loan from Sunderland, and it has not been confirmed whether his loan to the Principality will be made permanent. In total, 26 Ivory Coast players played in Ligue 1 McDonald's last season. Senegal are the only foreign nationality more represented in France's top-flight.
Tournament outlook:
This is a very difficult group, but Ivory Coast will at least have hope of qualifying as one of the best third-place teams. There is plenty of quality in this side and an incredible defensive resilience; they didn't concede a single goal in qualifying, whilst they also recently beat France in Nantes in a warm-up game (1-2). The 2023 African champions are in good shape and their defensive strength should make them difficult to beat, even for the most high-quality opposition.
Ligue 1 McDonald's legend: Didier Drogba
Didier Drogba played for Le Mans and EA Guingamp but it was his season with Marseille that lingers longest in the memory. In his one and only season with Les Phocéens (2003/04), Drogba scored an incredible 19 goals in Ligue 1 McDonald's, including one that was awarded goal of the season.
Didier Drogba, the king of Marseille 🇨🇮👑 pic.twitter.com/PZi8RA1UuC
— Ligue 1 English (@Ligue1_ENG) June 30, 2025
His time at OM earned him a cult status at the Vélodrome and it was his time there that catapulted him to big things and an eventual Champions League win.
Ecuador
FIFA Ranking: 23
Current Ligue 1 McDonald's players:
Only two Ecuador players played in Ligue 1 McDonald's last season, but one of them is one of the best in the French championship. Willian Pacho is a key player at PSG and has been over the past two seasons. His arrival has coincided with Les Parisiens' rise to prominence on the European scene. He is also a key player for Ecuador.
Tournament outlook:
Ecuador are considered one of the dark horses of this tournament. It is thought that any team that goes deep into the World Cup will need to have a strong defence and they certainly have that, as well as a physicality and a discipline that puts them in good standing. Across 18 games in the qualifiers, they conceded just five, less than half the amount of the team with the next-best defensive record (Argentina). It is a difficult group but one that they are capable of progressing from.
Ligue 1 McDonald's legend: Willian Pacho
Willian Pacho, the most decorated Ecuadorian player in Europe 🇪🇨🏆 pic.twitter.com/LysSQ833xE
— Ligue 1 English (@Ligue1_ENG) January 11, 2026
Pacho is undoubtedly the most impressive Ecuadorian to have played in France. He has now played 51 matches in the top-flight and, since arriving at the Parc des Princes, won everything that it is possible to win. Finding a consistent partner alongside captain Marquinhos took a while for Les Parisiens, but in Pacho, they have found him.
READ MORE
