Germany Makes Strong Debut at World Cup 2026, Dominates Newcomer Curacao 7-1

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Germany players celebrate at the end of the 2026 World Cup Group E football match between Germany and Curacao at the Houston Stadium in Houston on June 14, 2026. (Photo by Paul ELLIS / AFP)

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Germany won their first opening match at a World Cup since lifting the trophy in 2014 as they eased to a 7-1 win against debutants Curacao in their opening Group E match in Houston on Sunday.

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The Germans will face stiffer tests against group rivals Ecuador and Ivory Coast but the win against the tiny Caribbean nation puts them in a good position to progress to the knockout stages for the first time since 2014.

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An early German goal by Felix Nmecha was cancelled out by a deflected strike from Livano Comenencia which had the Curacao fans, known as the Blue Wave, out of their seats in Houston.

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However, Nico Schlotterbeck, Kai Havertz with a double, Jamal Musiala, Nathaniel Brown and Deniz Undav scored to put to bed any possibility of one of the greatest upsets in World Cup history.

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“It is indescribable,” said 22-year-old Brown of his first ever goal for his country.

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“To score in the first World Cup match, my family is there, then to celebrate with the guys — simply incredible.”

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– Germany on front foot –

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Germany settled early, Nmecha scoring a beauty in the sixth minute, receiving the ball from Florian Wirtz and curling the ball round a Curacao defender and past goalkeeper Eloy Room.

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The goal had coach Julian Nagelsmann letting out a huge roar.

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Nmecha, who like Musiala played for England at junior level before choosing Germany, went close minutes later with a rasping effort from outside the box.

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German goalkeeper Manuel Neuer, who at 40 is the oldest German player ever to appear at a World Cup and is playing in his fifth global tournament, had had little to do until Comenencia struck with a shot which took a deflection.

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While Germany’s senior citizen shook his head ruefully, the oldest coach to ever appear at the finals, 78-year-old Dick Advocaat, was up out of his seat arms raised.

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The drinks break allowed the Germans to regroup.

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“The goal we conceded was unnecessary, but that’s part of it,” said Brown. “I’m proud that we didn’t let our heads drop.”

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Soon after the restart Schlotterbeck’s header was brilliantly turned over the bar by Room.

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The four-time world champions huffed and puffed round the Curacao goal, but time and again desperate defending frustrated their Germans.

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However, the Curacao defence cracked in the 38th minute when an unmarked Schlotterbeck headed home from a corner for his first goal for his country.

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The Germans went into the break with a two-goal advantage as Havertz stroked home a penalty after Nmecha had been brought down by Riechedly Bazoer.

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Germany struck 69 seconds into the second half, Musiala running on to Joshua Kimmich’s pass and scoring from a tight angle.

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It should have been 5-1 just after the hour mark but Leroy Sane sent his effort wide with only Room to beat.

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Where Sane came up short Brown did not as the fullback fired home just before the second hydration break.

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Substitute Undav made it six with his seventh goal in his last seven international appearances.

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Havertz rounded it off with his 24th goal for Germany to replicate the same scoreline as they famously recorded against hosts Brazil in the 2014 semi-finals.

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