FIFA World Cup 2026 Group E brings together France, Poland, Egypt and Costa Rica for a three-match round-robin between June 14 and June 26, 2026. The top two advance directly to the Round of 32; the third-placed side has a chance via the best-third-place bracket.
Key Takeaways
- Group E teams: France, Poland, Egypt, Costa Rica.
- Projected winner: France; runner-up: Poland.
- Matchday 1: June 14, 2026. Matchday 3 (simultaneous final round): June 26, 2026.
- Matches staged across: Boston / Philadelphia / Dallas.
- Top two qualify automatically; third place is in play via the best-third-place rule.
Contents
The four teams in Group E
France
Manager: Didier Deschamps. Key players: Kylian Mbappe, Aurelien Tchouameni, Eduardo Camavinga. Confederation: UEFA.
Two-time champions (1998, 2018). 2022 runners-up. A bookmaker title favourite, France should win this group comfortably barring early-tournament upset.
See full France squad analysis for tactical breakdown and player profiles.
Poland
Manager: Michal Probierz. Key players: Robert Lewandowski, Piotr Zielinski, Nicola Zalewski. Confederation: UEFA.
1974 and 1982 third-place finishes. Dangerous middle-tier side capable of taking points from any opponent on its day.
See full Poland squad analysis for tactical breakdown and player profiles.
Egypt
Manager: Hossam Hassan. Key players: Mohamed Salah, Trezeguet, Mohamed Elneny. Confederation: CAF.
Three appearances (1934, 1990, 2018). Never past groups. Outsiders for advancement but with a real chance via the best-third-place rule.
See full Egypt squad analysis for tactical breakdown and player profiles.
Costa Rica
Manager: Gustavo Alfaro. Key players: Keylor Navas, Joel Campbell, Manfred Ugalde. Confederation: CONCACAF.
2014 quarter-finalists. Outsiders for advancement but with a real chance via the best-third-place rule.
See full Costa Rica squad analysis for tactical breakdown and player profiles.
Group E fixture schedule
Each team plays three matches across three matchdays. Matchday 3 fixtures kick off simultaneously to prevent collusion.
| Matchday | Fixture 1 | Fixture 2 |
|---|---|---|
| MD1 (June 14) | France vs Costa Rica | Poland vs Egypt |
| MD2 | France vs Egypt | Poland vs Costa Rica |
| MD3 (June 26) | France vs Poland | Egypt vs Costa Rica |
Full kickoff times and venue assignments are on our World Cup 2026 schedule page.
Group E prediction
Our pre-tournament model rates France as the most likely group winner, with Poland as runner-up. Egypt is the most plausible third-placed candidate with a path through the best-third-place bracket; Costa Rica enters as a clear outsider.
The decisive matchup: France vs Poland on Matchday 3 likely decides top spot, with first place rewarded by a theoretically easier Round of 32 tie against a third-placed qualifier. For our running tournament projections, see the predictions hub.
Frequently asked questions
Which teams are in World Cup 2026 Group E?
Group E contains France, Poland, Egypt, Costa Rica. The grouping is from the FIFA Final Draw held on December 5, 2025 in Las Vegas.
When does Group E play?
Group E fixtures run from June 14 to June 26, 2026 across three matchdays. Matchday 3 plays simultaneously to prevent collusion.
Who is favourite to win Group E?
France enters as Futbolzen’s projected group winner, ahead of Poland. Tier 1 title contender pedigree gives them the clearest path to first.
Where do Group E matches take place?
Group E matches are spread across: Boston / Philadelphia / Dallas. For city-by-city details see our host cities hub.
How do third-placed teams advance from Group E?
The 48-team format takes the best eight third-placed teams across the 12 groups into the Round of 32. Group E’s third-place finisher is in play, but goal difference and goals scored against the top three become the tiebreaker.
What’s next?
- Full schedule with kickoff times
- All 48 teams – squad analyses
- Predictions hub – tournament forecasts
- Host cities – venue and travel guides
- Latest news – daily updates
Last updated: May 23, 2026 by the Futbolzen editorial team. Tell us if you spot something out of date via our Corrections Policy.