Germany thrashes Curaçao 7-1 in dominant World Cup 2026 opener

Germany launched its 2026 World Cup campaign with a resounding 7-1 victory over the underdog Curaçao in Houston, Texas. The dominant performance saw six different German players find the back of the net, showcasing the team's offensive depth.

Despite some initial doubts in the first half, the German squad, managed by Julian Nagelsmann, ultimately secured a clear win. Felix Nmecha of Borussia Dortmund opened the scoring in the sixth minute, assisted by Florian Wirtz. Curaçao managed to equalize in the 21st minute through Livano Comenencia's deflected shot, but Germany quickly regained control.

Nico Schlotterbeck scored from a corner in the 38th minute, and Kai Havertz converted a penalty in first-half stoppage time, giving Germany a comfortable 3-1 lead at the break. The second half saw Germany extend its dominance, with Jamal Musiala increasing the lead to 4-1 shortly after the restart.

Nathaniel Brown added a fifth goal in the 68th minute, followed by Deniz Undav, a substitute for Musiala, who scored the sixth goal ten minutes later. Havertz sealed the emphatic victory with his second goal of the match in the 88th minute, concluding a strong start for the German team in the tournament.