HOUSTON, TEXAS / EuroWire / – Germany began its FIFA World Cup 2026 campaign with a 7-1 win over Curaçao at Houston Stadium on Sunday. Kai Havertz scored twice as Germany took control of its Group E opener. Felix Nmecha, Nico Schlotterbeck, Jamal Musiala, Nathaniel Brown and Deniz Undav also scored. Curaçao, in its first World Cup match, marked the night with a historic goal.
Nmecha opened the scoring in the sixth minute, giving Germany a fast lead. Curaçao answered in the 21st minute through Livano Comenencia. His finish gave the country its first World Cup goal. Schlotterbeck restored Germany’s lead in the 38th minute. Havertz converted a penalty in first-half stoppage time. That sent Germany into the break at 3-1. Musiala scored two minutes after the restart, and Brown added the fifth in the 68th minute.
Germany closed the match with Undav’s goal in the 78th minute and Havertz’s second in the 88th. The result gave Julian Nagelsmann a clear win in his first World Cup match as Germany coach. Germany had six scorers and kept pressure across both halves. The team opened a group that also includes Ivory Coast and Ecuador.
Historic Goal For Curaçao
Curaçao became the smallest nation by population and area to appear at a World Cup finals. Its debut came against four-time champion Germany before a crowd of 68,021. Comenencia’s goal drew a large reaction and briefly tied the match at 1-1. Germany then scored the next six goals. The match gave Curaçao its first appearance and first goal on football’s biggest stage.
Dick Advocaat, 78, became the oldest coach in World Cup history as he led Curaçao. Manuel Neuer, 40, started in goal for Germany. He became Germany’s oldest player at a major tournament. Neuer was the only member of Germany’s 2014 World Cup-winning squad in the starting lineup. Those records stood beside the scoreline in a match with several tournament milestones.
Germany Starts With Full Points
Havertz’s two goals shaped Germany’s final margin in the FIFA World Cup 2026 Group E match. His first came from the penalty spot before halftime. His second came late, after Undav had already made it 6-1. Brown, Musiala and Undav all scored after the break. Schlotterbeck’s first-half goal had put Germany back in front after Curaçao’s equalizer.
The result gave Germany three points and a plus-six goal difference from its opening match. Curaçao left Houston with no points but with its first World Cup goal. Germany vs Curaçao also marked Houston Stadium’s first match at the 2026 tournament. FIFA is staging the expanded World Cup across the United States, Canada and Mexico, with 48 teams playing 104 matches.