Germany Thrash World Cup Debutants Curaçao 7-1 in Group E Opener

Germany kicked off their 2026 World Cup campaign with a commanding 7-1 win over first-time participants Curacao on Sunday at NRG Stadium in Houston, with Kai Havertz scoring twice and Felix Nmecha catching the eye in a dominant display.

Curacao briefly levelled through Livano Comenencia in the 21st minute after Nmecha had given Germany an early lead, but the four-time world champions pulled away before half-time and kept adding goals after the break to run out comfortable winners.

Nmecha opened the scoring in the sixth minute, curling in from the edge of the box after a combination with Florian Wirtz. Curacao hit back when Comenencia's left-footed effort deflected past goalkeeper Manuel Neuer to make it 1-1, sending the small but vocal Curacao support into celebration.

Germany restored their lead in the 38th minute when Nico Schlotterbeck headed in from Nathaniel Brown's corner. Havertz then converted a penalty in first-half stoppage time after Nmecha was tripped in the box by Riechedly Bazoer.

The game was put to bed just 69 seconds into the second half when Jamal Musiala ran onto Joshua Kimmich's pass and fired across the goalkeeper to make it 4-1. Brown volleyed in a fifth, substitute Deniz Undav added a sixth, and Havertz completed the scoring in the 88th minute with a neat chip over Curacao keeper Eloy Room.

The result marked a strong start for Germany, who had failed to get out of the group stage at both the 2018 and 2022 tournaments despite winning the title in 2014.

Curacao made history simply by being there. The Caribbean island nation, home to around 155,000 people and covering just 171 square miles, became the smallest country by both size and population ever to play at a World Cup.

The match also set a record for the biggest age gap between coaches in World Cup history. Curacao's Dick Advocaat, 78, is the oldest manager ever to take charge at the tournament, while Germany's Julian Nagelsmann, 38, is the youngest coach in this year's competition.

Neuer, 40, made his return to international football after nearly two years away, making one save on the day.

Germany face Ivory Coast in Toronto on June 20, while Curacao take on Ecuador in Kansas City on June 21.