Germany
4-2-3-1 expected XI
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Germany vs Ivory Coast — FIFA World Cup 2026
Germany
GER
VS
Ivory Coast
CIV
June 17, 2026
19:00 ET
Lumen Field, Seattle, USA
Capacity: 68,740
Germany arrive at the 2026 FIFA World Cup with 20 previous appearances, their best result being Winners (1954, 1974, 1990, 2014). Ivory Coast have 3 appearances on football's biggest stage, with a best finish of Group stage (2006, 2010, 2014). Both sides qualified via UEFA Group J winners and CAF third round winners respectively. This is a rare inter-confederation clash: Germany of Union of European Football Associations against Ivory Coast of Confederation of African Football. Nations from different confederations meet infrequently outside World Cup tournaments.
Expected Lineups & Formation
Projected starting XIs, tactical shapes, and squad depth for Germany vs Ivory Coast.
Tactical Formation Diagram
Hover or tap an expected starter to open the full player profile and compare both tactical systems.
Germany 4-2-3-1 4-3-3 Ivory Coast
1 Manuel Neuer 
2 Joshua Kimmich 
4 Jonathan Tah 
5 Antonio Rüdiger 
3 David Raum 
6 Robert Andrich 
8 Toni Kroos 
10 Jamal Musiala 
7 Kai Havertz 
11 Leroy Sané 
9 Niclas Füllkrug 
16 Badra Ali Sangaré 
2 Serge Aurier 
4 Willy Boly 
5 Odilon Kossounou 
3 Ghislain Konan 
6 Seko Fofana 
8 Franck Kessié 
10 Nicolas Pépé 
9 Sébastien Haller 11 Ibrahim Sangaré 
7 Wilfried Zaha Germany (4-2-3-1)
Ivory Coast (4-3-3)
Germany
4-2-3-1 · Coach: Julian Nagelsmann · Squad Profile →
Substitutes Bench
Ivory Coast
4-3-3 · Coach: Emerse Faé · Squad Profile →
Substitutes Bench
Germany vs Ivory Coast — Historic Context & Meeting Record
World Cup pedigree, confederation background, and what this fixture means for both nations.
Ivory Coast and Germany are level: 0 wins each and 1 draws across 1 senior international meetings.
| Date | Competition | Venue | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| 18 Nov 2009 | Friendly | Gelsenkirchen, Germany | Germany 2–2 Ivory Coast |
Germany
ConfederationUnion of European Football Associations
World Cup Apps20
Best ResultWinners (1954, 1974, 1990, 2014)
QualificationUEFA Group J winners
Ivory Coast
ConfederationConfederation of African Football
World Cup Apps3
Best ResultGroup stage (2006, 2010, 2014)
QualificationCAF third round winners
📍 Venue Fact Sheet — Lumen Field
Opened2002
SurfaceFieldTurf CORE
Capacity68,740
ArchitectEllerbe Becket
WC 2026 Matches4
Notable EventsMLS Cup finals, Copa América Centenario
Notable Matches at This Venue
| Year | Competition | Teams | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2016 | Copa América Centenario | Argentina vs Bolivia (group stage) | Argentina 3–0 Bolivia |
| 2026 | FIFA World Cup | 4 matches scheduled | TBC |
Team Form & Recent Outings
How Germany and Ivory Coast arrive at the World Cup based on their last five competitive fixtures.
Germany
WWWWW
5W 0D 0L · 15 GF · 4 GA · 3 CS
Verified data — source: martj42/international_results (results.csv) · updated 2026-03-30
W 2-1
30 Mar 2026 · Friendly · vs Ghana (H)
W 4-3
27 Mar 2026 · Friendly · vs Switzerland (A)
W 6-0
17 Nov 2025 · FIFA World Cup qualification · vs Slovakia (H)
W 2-0
14 Nov 2025 · FIFA World Cup qualification · vs Luxembourg (A)
W 1-0
13 Oct 2025 · FIFA World Cup qualification · vs Northern Ireland (A)
Ivory Coast
WWLWW
4W 0D 1L · 13 GF · 5 GA · 3 CS
Verified data — source: martj42/international_results (results.csv) · updated 2026-03-31
W 1-0
31 Mar 2026 · Friendly · vs Scotland (N)
W 4-0
28 Mar 2026 · Friendly · vs South Korea (N)
L 2-3
10 Jan 2026 · African Cup of Nations · vs Egypt (N)
W 3-0
6 Jan 2026 · African Cup of Nations · vs Burkina Faso (N)
W 3-2
31 Dec 2025 · African Cup of Nations · vs Gabon (N)
Key Players to Watch
Six individuals who could decide the outcome of Germany vs Ivory Coast at the FIFA World Cup 2026.
Germany
Player to Watch
Kai Havertz
63 caps · 33 goals
Set-piece specialist — 8 direct free-kick goals
Kai Havertz is enjoying a career-best season at Arsenal, translating club form into international impact. Julian Nagelsmann relies heavily on their creativity in the final third to maintain Germany's competitive edge.
Niclas Füllkrug
25 caps · 10 goals
Aerial duel winner — 68% success rate
Niclas Füllkrug has been instrumental in Germany's qualifying campaign, delivering clutch performances in high-pressure away fixtures. Expect them to roam between the lines and exploit gaps behind the opposition back line.
Thomas Müller
89 caps · 4 goals
Captain — 87 caps of experience
A mainstay of the Germany national team with over 23 caps, Thomas Müller brings leadership and technical quality. Their movement off the shoulder of the last defender creates constant problems for opposing centre-backs.
Ivory Coast
Player to Watch
Sébastien Haller
38 caps · 13 goals
Key press trigger in high block system
A mainstay of the Ivory Coast national team with over 26 caps, Sébastien Haller brings leadership and technical quality. Their movement off the shoulder of the last defender creates constant problems for opposing centre-backs.
Jean-Philippe Krasso
90 caps · 25 goals
Most interceptions per 90 in squad
Jean-Philippe Krasso is enjoying a career-best season at Strasbourg, translating club form into international impact. Emerse Faé relies heavily on their creativity in the final third to maintain Ivory Coast's competitive edge.
Wilfried Zaha
89 caps · 4 goals
Captain — 87 caps of experience
A mainstay of the Ivory Coast national team with over 23 caps, Wilfried Zaha brings leadership and technical quality. Their ability to read the game one phase ahead makes them a pivotal figure in Ivory Coast's structure.
Tactical Analysis
A deep dive into how Julian Nagelsmann and Emerse Faé will set their sides up tactically for this FIFA World Cup 2026 group stage clash.
Germany — 4-2-3-1
System Overview
A structured block with a double pivot and a roaming playmaker behind the striker.
Attacking Patterns
Germany's set-piece threat is significant — they scored 12 goals from corners and free-kicks in qualifying.
Defensive Shape
Germany defends in a compact 4-4-2 low block, funneling play wide where they have aerial dominance.
Ivory Coast — 4-3-3
System Overview
A balanced system with width from full-backs and a single pivot shielding the back four.
Attacking Patterns
Germany favours quick transitions within 5 seconds of winning possession — a direct counter-attacking style.
Defensive Shape
Germany defends in a compact 4-4-2 low block, funneling play wide where they have aerial dominance.
Key Tactical Battle to Watch
The decisive tactical battle will be Germany's three-man defence against Ivory Coast's wing-back system. If Julian Nagelsmann can neutralise Ivory Coast's primary creator in central zones, Germany should control the tempo.
Match Prediction & AI Forecast
Data-driven outlook for Germany vs Ivory Coast based on squad depth, recent form, and historical head-to-head trends.
AI Forecast
FavouriteIvory Coast
Confidence68%
Likely Scorelines1-2 · 0-1 · 1-3
Factors for Germany
- Ivory Coast enter with superior recent form and tactical cohesion
- Ivory Coast's pressing intensity could exploit Germany's transitional vulnerabilities
Factors for Ivory Coast
- Germany will enjoy vocal home support at Germany's home continent
- Germany have historically raised performance levels in World Cup openers
This forecast is generated by an editorial AI model using squad-depth heuristics and confederation strength indices. It is not a betting tip.
This AI-generated forecast is for entertainment and editorial purposes only. It does not constitute betting advice. Always gamble responsibly.
Tickets & Pricing
Secure your seat for Germany vs Ivory Coast at Lumen Field, Seattle on June 17, 2026.
Frequently Asked Questions — Germany vs Ivory Coast
Who is playing in Germany vs Ivory Coast at the FIFA World Cup 2026?
Germany face Ivory Coast on June 17, 2026 at Lumen Field. The match features Germany's 4-2-3-1 system under head coach Julian Nagelsmann against Ivory Coast's 4-3-3 shape managed by Emerse Faé.
What time does Germany vs Ivory Coast kick off?
Kick-off is scheduled for the local match time shown above. Check your local broadcaster for timezone conversion. FIFA recommends arriving at the stadium at least 90 minutes before kick-off.
Where is Germany vs Ivory Coast being played?
The match takes place at Lumen Field in Seattle, USA. The stadium has a capacity of 68,740 spectators.
How to buy FIFA World Cup 2026 tickets for Germany vs Ivory Coast?
Tickets are available through the official FIFA Ticketing portal at fifa.com/tickets. Categories range from $60 (Category 3) to $450+ (Hospitality). Create a FIFA ID and select your preferred seating tier during the sales phase.
What formation will Germany and Ivory Coast use?
Germany typically line up in a 4-2-3-1 formation under Julian Nagelsmann, while Ivory Coast favour a 4-3-3 system with Emerse Faé. Expected lineups are listed in the team sheets above.
Who are the key players to watch in Germany vs Ivory Coast?
For Germany, watch Manuel Neuer in attack. For Ivory Coast, Badra Ali Sangaré leads the line. Both teams rely on experienced midfield engines to control tempo.
What TV channel is broadcasting Germany vs Ivory Coast?
Broadcast rights for the FIFA World Cup 2026 are held by Fox Sports (USA), TelevisaUnivision (Mexico), TSN (Canada), BBC/ITV (UK), ARD/ZDF (Germany), and beIN Sports (Middle East). Check your local listings for the exact channel in your territory.
Has Germany ever reached the World Cup knockout stage?
Germany have reached the knockout rounds in multiple tournaments, with their best ever finish being Winners (1954, 1974, 1990, 2014).
Has Ivory Coast ever reached the World Cup knockout stage?
Ivory Coast have reached the knockout rounds in some tournaments, with their best ever finish being Group stage (2006, 2010, 2014).
All tickets are sold through the official FIFA Ticketing Portal. Create a FIFA ID to purchase Category 1–3 or Hospitality packages. Prices shown are indicative and subject to demand-based dynamic pricing.