Germany sent an early warning to their World Cup rivals after cruising to a commanding 7-1 victory over tournament debutants Curacao in their Group E opener at NRG Stadium in Houston, Texas, on Sunday.
The four-time world champions produced an attacking masterclass to begin their 2026 FIFA World Cup campaign in style, recording the biggest win of the tournament so far and moving to the top of Group E.
Germany wasted little time asserting their dominance, taking the lead in the sixth minute through Felix Nmecha. The midfielder combined well with Florian Wirtz before curling a superb effort into the net to give Julian Nagelsmann’s side an early advantage. Curacao, however, refused to be intimidated and made history in the 21st minute when Livano Comenencia scored the Caribbean nation’s first-ever World Cup goal. The equalizer sparked celebrations among Curacao supporters and briefly stunned the German side.
The underdogs’ joy was short-lived as Germany regained control before halftime. Defender Nico Schlotterbeck restored Germany’s lead with a header in the 38th minute before Arsenal forward Kai Havertz converted a penalty deep into first-half stoppage time to make it 3-1. Germany emerged from the break determined to put the contest beyond doubt. Just two minutes into the second half, Jamal Musiala finished brilliantly after being picked out by Joshua Kimmich, extending Germany’s lead to 4-1.
The goals continued to flow as Nathaniel Brown capped an impressive performance with a strike in the 68th minute. Substitute Deniz Undav then got on the scoresheet in the 78th minute after making an immediate impact from the bench. Havertz completed his brace in the closing stages, racing through on goal before calmly finishing to seal a comprehensive 7-1 victory and complete one of the most dominant performances of the opening round of the tournament.
While the result highlighted the gulf in experience between the two nations, Curacao still left Houston with a memorable piece of history. The Caribbean side, playing in its first-ever World Cup match, celebrated its maiden goal at football’s biggest tournament through Comenencia.
Germany coach Julian Nagelsmann will be encouraged by the performance as his team seeks to re-establish itself among the world’s elite after disappointing exits in the 2018 and 2022 World Cups. The victory also extended Germany’s winning streak to 10 matches and handed them a significant goal difference advantage in Group E. The result leaves Germany top of the group ahead of Ivory Coast, who defeated Ecuador 1-0 in the other Group E match. Germany will next face Ivory Coast in what is expected to be one of the group’s biggest encounters, while Curacao will look to bounce back against Ecuador.
For Germany, the emphatic victory was a statement of intent. For Curacao, despite the heavy defeat, their historic first World Cup goal ensured the occasion will remain a memorable milestone in the nation’s football history.
