Germany began their FIFA World Cup 2026 campaign in dominant fashion on Sunday, securing a 7–1 victory over tournament debutants Curaçao in their Group E opener in Houston.
Felix Nmecha set the tone early, scoring inside the first six minutes to record one of the fastest goals of the tournament. Curaçao briefly stunned the four-time champions when Livano Comenencia equalised midway through the first half, marking a historic first World Cup goal for the Caribbean nation.
However, Germany quickly regained control before halftime, with Nico Schlotterbeck restoring the lead and Kai Havertz converting a penalty just before the break. The second half saw Germany’s attacking depth take over, as Jamal Musiala, Nathaniel Brown, Deniz Undav, and Havertz again added to the scoreline to complete a commanding win.
Despite a spirited performance from Curaçao, Germany’s superior quality and depth proved decisive as they opened their tournament with a statement victory.
The result puts Germany top of Group E after the first round of matches, with further fixtures against Ivory Coast and Ecuador still to come.
