Germany announced themselves at the 2026 World Cup in emphatic fashion, crushing debutants Curaçao 7-1 in their Group E opener in Houston.
Julian Nagelsmann’s side delivered a ruthless attacking display, combining early intensity with second-half control to secure one of the most convincing wins of the tournament so far.
Felix Nmecha set the tone after just six minutes, firing Germany ahead and immediately placing Curaçao under pressure.
But the Caribbean nation, playing in their first-ever World Cup match, refused to be overawed. Livano Comenencia wrote his name into Curaçao football history in the 21st minute, scoring the country’s first goal at the finals to briefly level the contest and spark wild celebrations among their supporters.
That moment, however, only stirred Germany into a sharper response. Nico Schlotterbeck restored the lead before Kai Havertz converted from the penalty spot deep into first-half stoppage time to give the four-time champions a 3-1 cushion at the break.
Germany returned from the interval with even greater authority. Jamal Musiala struck shortly after the restart, before Nathaniel Brown added another as Curaçao struggled to contain Germany’s movement, pace and precision in the final third.
Havertz completed his brace to underline his influence in attack, while substitute Deniz Undav also got on the scoresheet to cap a commanding team performance.
The result offers the perfect start for Germany after disappointing recent World Cup campaigns and sends a strong message to their Group E rivals. The win also gives Nagelsmann’s men a valuable goal-difference advantage at an early stage of the competition.
The scoreline was painful for Curaçao but their historic goal and spirited passages of play gave their debut appearance a moment of pride.
Germany will now turn attention to tougher tests ahead, while Curaçao must regroup quickly as they continue their historic World Cup journey.
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