Soccer Football – FIFA World Cup 2026 – Group E – Germany v Curacao – Houston Stadium, Houston, Texas, U.S. – June 14, 2026 Curacao’s Riechedly Bazoer fouls Germany’s Felix Nmecha to concede a penalty REUTERS/Phil Noble Purchase Licensing Rights
Germany announced themselves at the World Cup with a ruthless 7-1 dismantling of debutants Curacao on Sunday, a match that delivered landmark moments for both sides even as the final scoreline underlined the gulf in class.
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Felix Nmecha struck after just six minutes to record the fastest goal of the tournament so far, while Nico Schlotterbeck, Kai Havertz twice, Jamal Musiala, Nathaniel Brown and Deniz Undav also found the net in a dominant start to Julian Nagelsmann’s campaign.
Yet the loudest roar from the 68,021 fans in Houston came not for Germany’s barrage, but for Livano Comenencia’s 21st-minute equaliser, Curacao’s first-ever goal at a World Cup and a strike that came on a historic day for the smallest nation by population and area to reach the global finals.
Curacao’s supporters embraced the moment under Dick Advocaat, who at 78 became the oldest coach in World Cup history, and stayed behind their team until the final whistle in what many had long considered an impossible dream.
“We expected to do more against Germany, but they were too strong,” Advocaat said. “We conceded three easy goals and 4-1 would have been a better score.
“Despite this 7-1 outcome, the joy of the fans is fantastic. This is not a disgrace, we can still be proud. We still have two games to go and those could end differently.
“The players will not be downcast, it was still great to play in this game.”
Recalled goalkeeper Manuel Neuer also made history, becoming Germany’s oldest player at a major tournament at the age of 40, surpassing Lothar Matthaeus.
“It took us a few minutes to get back into the game after they equalised,” Nagelsmann said. “Curacao can play football too, as we saw, and I’m curious to see how they’ll fare in the group going forward.
“I’m very satisfied with us scoring seven goals and our performance for the most part. A winning start is always important and we’re glad we managed it.”
COLD COMFORT FOR CURACAO
Curacao can at least draw some consolation from the fact that the result matched Germany’s famous 7-1 demolition of hosts Brazil in the 2014 semi-finals, a reminder of the four-time champions’ capacity for devastation when everything clicks.
This was not that famous night in Belo Horizonte, but Germany were still sharp, composed and relentless, controlling possession and creating chances almost at will to send an early warning to the rest of the field that they belong in the title conversation.
Known as The Blue Wave, Curacao instead found themselves facing a tide of white shirts from the outset.
They held out for six minutes before Germany’s intricate passing around the edge of the box opened the door for Nmecha, though Curacao briefly found joy by striking on the counter.
Comenencia’s effort from 15 metres took a deflection and looped beyond Neuer for a goal that will go into the country’s footballing history.
Germany restored their lead in the 38th minute through Schlotterbeck’s easy header, and from there the contest turned into a procession.
Havertz converted a penalty, Musiala added another soon after the break and Brown, Undav and Havertz again completed the rout as Germany finished the night in authoritative fashion.
Reporting by Nick Said and Michael Kahn, Editing by Ken Ferris
By Nick Said Monday June 15, 2026
