Germany's national team opened the 2026 World Cup with a convincing 7-1 win over Curaçao. Six different players scored for Julian Nagelsmann's side.
Germany scored through Felix Nmecha in the 6th minute, Nico Schlotterbeck in the 38th, Kai Havertz from a penalty in the 45th+5, Jamal Musiala in the 47th, Nathaniel Brown in the 68th, Deniz Undav in the 78th and Havertz again in the 88th. Curaçao equalized temporarily through Livano Comenencia in the 21st minute.
The match took place in Houston. The British Daily Mail described the performance as a "brutal lesson" for the underdog. Brazilian newspaper O Tempo recalled the 7-1 against Brazil from 2014.
In Curaçao, pride was emphasized despite the defeat over the island's World Cup finals debut and its first World Cup goal. Italy's Gazzetta dello Sport saw the win as banishing "the ghosts of the past".
