Germany demolish Curaçao 7-1 in World Cup opener
Germany kicked off their FIFA World Cup 2026 campaign against Curaçao in style after recording a 7-1 win at Houston Stadium.
Germany 7-1 Curaçao
Goals: 1-0 Nmecha 6’ (assist: Wirtz), 1-1 Comenencia 21’, 2-1 Schlotterbeck 38’ (assist: Brown), 3-1 Havertz (pen.) 45’+5, 4-1 Musiala 47’ (assist: Kimmich), 5-1 Brown 68’ (assist: Undav), 6-1 Undav 78’ (assist: Kimmich), 7-1 Havertz 88’ (assist: Undav)
A notable storyline ahead of kick-off was the return of Manuel Neuer in goal - the 40-year-old making his first Germany appearance since UEFA Euro 2024 after recovering from injury. Captain Joshua Kimmich led the side out for his 111th international cap, while Nathaniel Brown was confirmed as a starter by Nagelsmann, two days before his 23rd birthday.
Germany wasted no time in making their intentions clear. Felix Nmecha opened the scoring in the sixth minute, playing a clever one-two with Florian Wirtz before striking first time from the edge of the box, finding the far corner with the keeper rooted to the spot.
It was Germany's fastest World Cup goal since 2010 and the quickest of the tournament so far. Germany continued to press, with Jamal Musiala and Leroy Sané both going close in the opening exchanges.
Against the run of play, Curaçao drew level in the 21st minute. Nico Schlotterbeck failed to clear the ball completely, and it fell to Livano Comenencia, whose shot was deflected by Kimmich and left Neuer with no chance.
It was a moment of vulnerability from the German defence, and the equaliser came as a genuine shock given Germany's dominance up to that point.
Germany regrouped after a hydration break and reasserted their authority. In the 38th minute, Brown delivered a perfectly flighted corner from the right, and Schlotterbeck timed his run to perfection, heading into the corner of the net for his first ever international goal - a double first, as it was also Brown's first assist for the national team.
Germany continued to press and, deep into first-half stoppage time, were awarded a penalty after Nmecha was brought down by Riechedly Bazoer. Kai Havertz stepped up and coolly rolled the ball into the bottom-left corner, sending goalkeeper Eloy Room the wrong way to make it 3-1 at the break.
Germany came out of the tunnel with the same intent, and within two minutes of the restart, Musiala had made it 4-1. Kimmich threaded a precise through-ball into the path of Musiala, who slotted home clinically from a tight angle — his first ever World Cup goal, having gone scoreless at the 2022 tournament.
Germany continued to dominate, and in the 68th minute, substitute Deniz Undav — who had come on for Musiala moments earlier — flicked the ball cleverly into the path of Brown, who volleyed home first time into the bottom corner for his first international goal.
Undav and Havertz complete the rout
Nagelsmann made a triple substitution in the 73rd minute, bringing on Antonio Rüdiger, Leon Goretzka and David Raum for Jonathan Tah, Nmecha and Brown, respectively. Undav then added a sixth in the 78th minute, with Kimmich pulling the ball back unselfishly for the Stuttgart forward to squeeze the ball home.
In the 88th minute, Undav turned provider once more, playing Havertz through on goal after a ball-winning moment from Goretzka. Havertz kept his composure and lifted the ball beautifully over the onrushing Room to complete a 7-1 victory.
