FIFA World Cup 2026 Group I brings together Germany, Cameroon, Jordan and Paraguay for a three-match round-robin between June 16 and June 27, 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 I teams: Germany, Cameroon, Jordan, Paraguay.
- Projected winner: Germany; runner-up: Cameroon.
- Matchday 1: June 16, 2026. Matchday 3 (simultaneous final round): June 27, 2026.
- Matches staged across: Seattle / Los Angeles / Boston.
- Top two qualify automatically; third place is in play via the best-third-place rule.
Contents
The four teams in Group I
Germany
Manager: Julian Nagelsmann. Key players: Jamal Musiala, Florian Wirtz, Kai Havertz. Confederation: UEFA.
Four-time champions, but group-stage exits at 2018 and 2022. Strong squad with knockout pedigree – expects to finish in the top two.
See full Germany squad analysis for tactical breakdown and player profiles.
Cameroon
Manager: Marc Brys. Key players: Andre Onana, Bryan Mbeumo, Frank Anguissa. Confederation: CAF.
1990 quarter-finalists – first African nation to reach the last eight. Outsiders for advancement but with a real chance via the best-third-place rule.
See full Cameroon squad analysis for tactical breakdown and player profiles.
Jordan
Manager: Jamal Sellami. Key players: Musa Al-Taamari, Yazan Al-Naimat, Mahmoud Al-Mardi. Confederation: AFC.
World Cup DEBUT in 2026. AFC Asian Cup 2024 runners-up. Outsiders for advancement but with a real chance via the best-third-place rule.
See full Jordan squad analysis for tactical breakdown and player profiles.
Paraguay
Manager: Gustavo Alfaro. Key players: Miguel Almiron, Antonio Sanabria, Julio Enciso. Confederation: CONMEBOL.
2010 quarter-finalists. First World Cup since 2010. Outsiders for advancement but with a real chance via the best-third-place rule.
See full Paraguay squad analysis for tactical breakdown and player profiles.
Group I 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 16) | Germany vs Paraguay | Cameroon vs Jordan |
| MD2 | Germany vs Jordan | Cameroon vs Paraguay |
| MD3 (June 27) | Germany vs Cameroon | Jordan vs Paraguay |
Full kickoff times and venue assignments are on our World Cup 2026 schedule page.
Group I prediction
Our pre-tournament model rates Germany as the most likely group winner, with Cameroon as runner-up. Jordan is the most plausible third-placed candidate with a path through the best-third-place bracket; Paraguay enters as a clear outsider.
The decisive matchup: Germany vs Cameroon 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 I?
Group I contains Germany, Cameroon, Jordan, Paraguay. The grouping is from the FIFA Final Draw held on December 5, 2025 in Las Vegas.
When does Group I play?
Group I fixtures run from June 16 to June 27, 2026 across three matchdays. Matchday 3 plays simultaneously to prevent collusion.
Who is favourite to win Group I?
Germany enters as Futbolzen’s projected group winner, ahead of Cameroon. Group is competitive but Germany has the strongest squad profile.
Where do Group I matches take place?
Group I matches are spread across: Seattle / Los Angeles / Boston. For city-by-city details see our host cities hub.
How do third-placed teams advance from Group I?
The 48-team format takes the best eight third-placed teams across the 12 groups into the Round of 32. Group I’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.