WATCH: Germany vs Curaçao 7-1 2026 World Cup Highlights

Germany announced their 2026 FIFA World Cup campaign in emphatic fashion, dismantling debutants Curaçao 7-1 at Houston Stadium on Sunday, June 14.

Julian Nagelsmann’s side put on a clinical, fluid display that left no doubt about their intentions this summer, with Kai Havertz finishing with a brace, Felix Nmecha opening the scoring, and substitute Denis Undav stealing the show off the bench. Curaçao, appearing at their first-ever World Cup, did manage a famous equaliser through Livano Comenencia to briefly silence the crowd, but the Blue Wave were ultimately overwhelmed by a ruthless German machine that refused to ease off.

The result keeps Germany’s recent record of ten consecutive wins intact heading into the tournament, and sends an early signal to the rest of Group E that Die Mannschaft are hungry to end their eight-year wait for a fifth World Cup title.

Watch Germany vs Curaçao Highlights

Full match highlights from Germany vs Curaçao at the 2026 FIFA World Cup are available to watch now, watch below.

Match Details

• Competition: 2026 FIFA World Cup, Group E
• Date: Sunday, 14 June 2026
• Venue: Houston Stadium (NRG Stadium), Houston, Texas, USA
• Attendance: 68,021
• Kick-off: 1:00 PM local time (7:00 PM BST)
• Referee: Jalal Jayed
• Result: Germany 7-1 Curaçao

Goalscorers

• Germany: Felix Nmecha (6′), Nico Schlotterbeck (38′), Kai Havertz (45+5′ pen), Jamal Musiala (47′), Nathaniel Brown (68′), Denis Undav (78′), Kai Havertz (88′)
• Curaçao: Livano Comenencia (21′)

First Half: Nmecha Strikes Early, Curaçao Respond, Germany Take Control

Germany’s evening began inside six minutes. Felix Nmecha, operating in a box-to-box midfield role behind the attacking trident of Florian Wirtz, Jamal Musiala, and Leroy Sané, burst into the Curaçao half and drove a composed finish into the net to make it 1-0. The goal was exactly what Nagelsmann’s setup demands from that position: energy, late runs, and an end product. Joshua Kimmich, pulling strings from deep alongside Aleksandar Pavlovic, was already dictating the tempo, while Manuel Neuer looked set for what should have been a quiet afternoon.

But Curaçao had not come to Houston simply to be a footnote. Ranked 82nd in the world and the smallest nation at this tournament, the Blue Wave stunned the 68,021-strong crowd on 21 minutes when Livano Comenencia found space inside the German box and equalised. It was a historic moment. Curaçao had scored their first-ever goal in a FIFA World Cup finals, and the blue-clad supporters in Houston Stadium erupted. For a brief, electric window, the scoreline read 1-1, and the world took notice.

Germany, to their credit, did not panic. They pressed forward with patience and purpose, and Nico Schlotterbeck, the Borussia Dortmund centre-back, restored the lead on 38 minutes with a powerful, well-placed header that gave the Curaçao goalkeeper no chance. The goal deflated the momentum Curaçao had briefly generated and allowed Germany to reassert control going into the break.

Five additional minutes were played at the end of the half, and Germany made them count. Felix Nmecha was brought down inside the area, and Kai Havertz stepped up to convert the penalty with calm authority. Germany went into the interval leading 3-1, and the tie was effectively decided. Curaçao had given everything they had, and the gulf in quality between a World Cup veteran and a World Cup debutant was now written plainly on the scoreboard.

Second Half: Germany Pour it On

Julian Nagelsmann’s half-time message appeared to be simple: keep going. Germany emerged from the tunnel with the same pressing intent, and within two minutes of the restart, Jamal Musiala added a fourth. The Bayern Munich midfielder, one of the most technically gifted players at this entire tournament, picked up the ball in the final third and finished with the instinctive precision that has become his trademark. At 4-1, any remaining doubt was erased.

The second half became an opportunity for Germany to rotate and rest, and Nagelsmann used his substitutions cleverly. Nathaniel Brown, who had started the game at right-back and contributed well in possession, found himself in the right place on 68 minutes to net Germany’s fifth. The young full-back now had a goal and an assist to his name from a single World Cup debut performance, a night he will not forget quickly.

Denis Undav, brought off the bench to give Havertz some support, turned the game’s closing stages into something of a personal showcase. The Stuttgart forward scored Germany’s sixth on 78 minutes and then laid on two further assists as Germany pushed for a seventh. Undav’s impact was immediate and decisive, the kind of contribution that makes selection decisions very difficult for Nagelsmann going forward. The substitute created havoc every time he received the ball, combining brilliantly with Havertz and stretching a tiring Curaçao backline that had nothing left to give.

Havertz completed his brace ten minutes from time, finishing calmly from close range after Goretzka forced a turnover in the German press. The final whistle confirmed a 7-1 scoreline that told the full story of the evening. Germany were dominant, creative, and devastating in front of goal. Curaçao were brave, historic in their moment, and ultimately outclassed.

Man of the Match: Kai Havertz

Kai Havertz was the standout individual on a night when Germany had several strong performers. The Arsenal forward opened his World Cup account with a composed penalty just before half-time and returned in the final stages to score his second from the run of play, finishing a flowing German move with the calm of a player who has rediscovered his best form at exactly the right moment. Havertz now enters the race for the Golden Boot alongside Ricardo Balogun, who also scored twice for the United States earlier in the tournament. For a player who has had to battle for consistency at club level, this was a timely reminder of just how devastating he can be when confidence is high and chances are created.

Curaçao’s Historic Moment

Whatever the final scoreline said, Livano Comenencia’s goal on 21 minutes will live forever in Curaçao football history. The island nation of roughly 150,000 people qualified for this World Cup as the smallest country in the field, ranked 82nd in the world, and they arrived knowing they would face one of the tournament favourites in their opening match. The fact that they equalised against Germany, even briefly, underlines what this group of players has managed to achieve simply by being on this stage. Their next match comes against Ecuador in Kansas City, and it will represent a more realistic opportunity to register points in Group E.

Key Stats

• Germany extended their winning run to ten consecutive matches heading into the World Cup.
• This was Curaçao’s first-ever FIFA World Cup finals appearance.
• Comenencia scored Curaçao’s first-ever World Cup goal.
• Kai Havertz joins Ricardo Balogun (USA) as a joint leader in the early Golden Boot standings with two goals.
• Denis Undav, a substitute, contributed one goal and two assists from the bench.
• Joshua Kimmich registered two assists from deep midfield.
• Nathaniel Brown, a right-back, scored one goal and provided one assist.
• Attendance: 68,021 at NRG Stadium, Houston, Texas.

Starting Lineups

Germany (4-2-3-1)

Manuel Neuer; Nathaniel Brown, Nico Schlotterbeck, Jonathan Tah, Joshua Kimmich; Aleksandar Pavlovic, Felix Nmecha; Florian Wirtz, Jamal Musiala, Leroy Sané; Kai Havertz

Curaçao

Lineup details confirmed. Livano Comenencia featured as a key attacker and scored Curaçao’s historic first World Cup goal.

What Comes Next

Germany now face Ivory Coast on Saturday, June 20 in Toronto, a match that will carry considerably more weight than this opener. The Ivorians represent a genuine test of Nagelsmann’s defensive organisation, with Nicolas Pépé, Sébastien Haller, and Franck Kessié among the threats Germany will need to manage. Three points from the opener gives Die Mannschaft breathing room, but Nagelsmann will not allow complacency to creep in.

Curaçao, meanwhile, face Ecuador in Kansas City on the same day Germany take on the Ivory Coast. Ecuador represent a more measured opponent for the Blue Wave, and the CONCACAF and Caribbean nations in this field will be watching closely to see if the debutants can recover their spirits and compete. Whatever happens next, Curaçao leave Houston having made football history, and their 21st-minute equaliser will be replayed for years.

This article was updated following the final whistle on 14 June 2026. All statistics are sourced from FIFA, ESPN, and NBC Sports.