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Germany v Curaçao | Group E | FIFA World Cup 2026™ | Highlights
Watch highlights of the match between Germany and Curaçao played at Houston Stadium on Sunday 14 June at 12:00 (local time).
Kai Havertz scored twice as Julian Nagelsmann’s side ran riot to hand the FIFA World Cup newcomers a harsh lesson.
Germany goals: Nmecha (6), Schlotterbeck (38) Havertz (45+5 pen), Musiala (47), Brown (68), Undav (78), Havertz (88) Curaçao goal: Comenecia (21)
Germany inflicted a chastening defeat on FIFA World Cup™ debutants Curaçao at Houston Stadium.
The four-time world champions made an ominous start, taking the lead after Felix Nmecha combined with Florian Wirtz and steered a superb first-time finish into the far corner.
Curaçao had barely laid a glove on Julian Nagelsmann’s team when some defensive uncertainty allowed Livano Comenencia to nestle a deflected effort beyond the despairing dive of returning World Cup 2014 winner Manuel Neuer, sparking jubilant scenes in sections of the stands.
But the joy was short-lived. Nico Schlotterbeck headed home unmarked from a corner, before Kai Havertz rolled in a penalty after Riechedly Bazoer had upended Nmecha, giving Germany a commanding half-time cushion.
Things went from bad to worse for Curaçao as Jamal Musiala latched onto Joshua Kimmich’s defence-splitting pass and swept into the bottom corner within minutes of the restart.
Nathaniel Brown marked his World Cup debut with a composed volleyed finish, before substitute Deniz Undav added a sixth Germany goal from close range. Havertz completed his brace late on to leave the smallest nation in tournament history to reflect on a heavy loss.
Germany assume control of Group E, while Curaçao’s attentions turn to a crunch encounter with Ecuador on 20 June.
Key stat
At 40 years and 79 days, Manuel Neuer became the oldest Germany player to feature at a major tournament, breaking the record previously held by Lothar Matthaus, set at UEFA EURO 2000.
Michelob Ultra Superior Player of the Match
Kai Havertz (Germany)
What they said…
“It took us a few minutes to get back into the game after they equalised. Curaçao 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.” Julian Nagelsmann, Germany coach
“There was a real joy in playing, and the substitutes brought energy to the game, too. You can see the unity in the team. It wasn’t Brazil in the semi-finals, but Curaçao in the first match… but a good start is important. We had that and that’s why we’re satisfied. I can still remember my first World Cup match in 2010 against Australia. I’m as excited as if this were my first World Cup. Either you love football or you don’t… that’s why [this fifth World Cup] is something very special for me.” Manuel Neuer, Germany goalkeeper
“When you look at how we played for the most part, we can be satisfied. It should give us a lot of confidence for the tasks ahead. The first World Cup match is always tough… we’ve seen that in the past. That’s why we’re very happy with the 7-1 win. It was a good start. Now we need to recover well and then focus fully on the next match.” Kai Havertz, Germany forward and Michelob Ultra Superior Player of the Match
“It’s indescribable that I scored in my first World Cup match. We’re very pleased to have scored seven goals. The goal we conceded was unnecessary, but perhaps it did us good to wake us up. I’m proud of the team for simply carrying on and playing well. The goals are good for us, but we also need to keep working on our weaknesses.” Nathaniel Brown, Germany defender
“We can be really proud to play against a nation like Germany and scoring a goal. Coming from behind and scoring a goal, 1-1. After that, we gave the goals a bit easy to them. Every time, if you look at the goals, that was a 1-2 and we didn’t follow our man. At this level, you can’t make these kind of mistakes. We got to look in the mirror, take the positives of the game.” Leandro Bacuna, Curaçao player
“I have dreamed about it since I was a little kid, when I was five or six years old and I begun with football. It’s just beautiful that my dream is actually true.” Livano Comenencia, Curaçao goalscorer
SOURCED FROM FIFA WEBSITE.