Half-time shirt change!
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— Men in Blazers (@MenInBlazers) June 14, 2026HIGH LEVEL TACTICS FROM JULIAN NAGELSMANN 👕
The German manager made a half-time wardrobe change, opting for a more casual look. Clearly, it worked, with Germany storming past Curacao in the second half to win 7-1 🇩🇪 pic.twitter.com/BbbhsgKclw
Seventh heaven
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— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) June 14, 20267 - Only five FIFA World Cup matches this century have seen a team score 7+ goals, while three of those five have been by 🇩🇪 Germany:
8-0 v Saudi Arabia (2002)
7-1 v Brazil (2014)
7-1 v Curaçao (2026)Ruthless. pic.twitter.com/PGDJBl73Bg
Jurgen Klopp loving it
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I can see that Germany shirt, Jurgen!
Mutual respect
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The youngest (Julian Nagelsmann) and oldest (Dick Advocaat) managers at this tournament show each other plenty of respect after the final whistle.
Curacao thank their fans on historic day for the country
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Better start
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This is the first time Germany have won their opening game at the World Cup since 2014, when they won the tournament. In Russia in 2018, they lost 1-0 to Mexico whilst in Qatar in 2022, they fell to a 2-1 loss to Japan.
Respective World Cup group fixtures
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Germany:
Tonight: Germany 7 Curacao 1 (Houston)
June 20: Germany vs Ivory Coast (Toronto), 9pm
June 25: Ecuador vs Germany (New Jersey), 9pm
Curacao:
Tonight: Germany 7 Curacao 1 (Houston)
June 21: Ecuador vs Curacao (Kansas City), 1am
June 25: Curacao vs Ivory Coast (Philadelphia), 9pm
Today’s games
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Group C:
Haiti 0 Scotland 1
Group D:
Australia 2 Turkey 0
Group E:
Germany 7 Curacao 1
Group F:
Netherlands vs Japan 9pm
There are also two games in the early hours of tomorrow morning British time; Ivory Coast play Ecuador in Group E in Philadelphia whilst Sweden take on Tunisia in Monterrey
FT stats
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Possession: Germany 65%-35% Curacao
Shots: 27-8
Shots on target: 12-2
Corners: 8-1
Touches in opposition box: 63-10
These numbers probably back up Germany’s dominance in the game!
Full time
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One last chance for Germany to score another as they have a free-kick deep into stoppage time. Raum, Sane and Wirtz are all standing over it..
Raum clips in a cross rather than a shot and picks out Havertz in acres of space. Havertz heads it back across to Goretzka, who should score but makes a mess of it.
That is the final act and Germany begin their World Cup campaign in emphatic style, putting seven goals past debutants Curacao.
90 mins: Germany 7 Curacao 1
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There will be five added minutes and Curacao will probably be hoping that full-time whistle comes sooner rather than later.
GOAL! Clinical finish from Havertz gives Germany seventh heaven
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This has been ruthless from Julian Nagelsmann’s side. Germany win the ball on halfway through Goretzka and Undav plays a pass forward to pick out the run of Havertz. The Arsenal man carries it all the way into the Curacao box and, at the crucial moment, lifts it over Room clinically and the ball goes into the net. A fine finish from Havertz, his second goal of the game.
85 mins: Germany 6 Curacao 1
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Raum, up from left-back, gets his shot away from the left side of the box but is denied by the leg of Room.
82 mins: Germany 6 Curacao 1
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A third change for Curacao sees Kastaneer replace Chong.
Germany are bringing on Anton for captain Kimmich.
79 mins: Germany 6 Curacao 1
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The floodgates have well and truly opened, with Germany eyeing up more goals in this one.
GOAL! Undav finishes off fine move
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Germany have their sixth of the game and their World Cup campaign is getting going in fine fashion. It is a lovely team move that involved plenty of passing and moving. Havertz’s ball from the left side of the box picks out Kimmich at the back post. Unselfishly, Kimmich squares it for Undav, who slots home.
76 mins: Germany 5 Curacao 1
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Margaritha is found making a run down the left channel and, as the substitute enters the Germany penalty area, he cuts inside Rudiger before looking to pick out the top corner. His curling effort though goes just over the bar.
73 mins: Germany 5 Curacao 1
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Germany have used the second-half hydration break to make a triple change with Raum, Goretzka and Rudiger all coming on. Nmecha, Tah and Brown head off.
GOAL! Brown fires home for Germany
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A first international goal for Brown as Germany are putting the seal on an emphatic start to this World Cup. Undav flicks it into the path of Brown, who volleys home first time into the far corner. There will be a VAR check as to whether he was offside when Undav flicked the ball. It will be a close call but he is onside so the goal stands. Brown would have been devastated had his first international goal been taken away from him.
67 mins: Germany 4 Curacao 1
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L Bacuna puts the ball into the Germany net and the Curacao fans go wild but the offside flag goes up. There was a clear offside just before so the goal does not stand. None of the players really thought that had a chance of standing.
64 mins: Germany 4 Curacao 1
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Julian Nagelsmann makes his first change of the game as former Brighton man Undav replaces Musiala, who scored Germany’s fourth today.
Curacao make their second substitution as Margaritha comes on for Locadia.
63 mins: Germany 4 Curacao 1
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Germany should have their fifth but Sane misses a sitter. Sane makes a great run in behind and Tah picks him out with a ball over the top. Sane takes a great touch and should bury the chance. He lifts it over the keeper but shot misses the target.
62 mins: Germany 4 Curacao 1
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Chance for Curacao. From a free-kick out on the left, Antonisse clips it in and picks out the head of L Bacuna but the Curacao captain cannot keep his header down.
61 mins: Germany 4 Curacao 1
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The Houston Stadium is quite a big arena and a Mexican Wave is currently going around the stadium, which is quite the sight! Everyone is having a great time.
59 mins: Germany 4 Curacao 1
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Will Julian Nagelsmann, now his side are 4-1 up, want to rest some of his key players or does he want his starting XI to gain more confidence and rhythm, with more goals in this game for them?
54 mins: Germany 4 Curacao 1
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Pavlovic should do better. Wirtz, on the right side of the box, lays it off to the edge of the box to find Pavlovic, who runs onto it and hits it first time but blazes his effort over the bar when he should probably hit the target.
53 mins: Germany 4 Curacao 1
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Kimmich, out on the right, spots the run of Wirtz into the Curacao box and picks him out. Wirtz takes a touch to bring it down before firing towards goal but Bazoer makes an important block.
50 mins: Germany 4 Curacao 1
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Nmecha has one goal to his name and has come close on a number of occasions of adding to that tally, with the latest example coming right now as he is denied by Room. Curacao now need to be careful that this game really does not get out of hand completely.
49 mins: Germany 4 Curacao 1
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On their World Cup debut, Curacao are experiencing the chastening realities of facing a top team at the highest level, which they are not used to. They have had their amazing moment with their first goal at a World Cup on their debut but Germany are exerting their authority on this game now and will look to put Curacao to the sword.
GOAL! Musiala adds Germany’s fourth
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Just over a minute into the second half, Germany score their fourth of the game and this match looks a way beyond the debutants Curacao now, who might now be hoping this does not get ugly. Kimmich slides a great pass to pick out the run of Musiala into the right side of the box. From a narrow angle, somehow Musiala finds the far corner with a sublime finish.
Second half
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We are back under way in Houston. Can Curacao stage an incredible comeback on their World Cup debut or will Germany further extend their lead to kick off their campaign in style?
Curacao have made a change at the break as Antonisse comes on for Hansen.
HT stats
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Possession: Germany 71%-29% Curacao
Shots: 16-4
Shots on target: 6-2
Corners: 6-0
Touches in opposition box: 36-4
Verdict at the break
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For 17 glorious minutes, Curacao were dreaming and the prospect of a huge World Cup upset appeared very possible. Even a draw for the debutants against the four-time winners would have represented a significant shock.
Yet while they are now behind by two goals, Curacao can still take heart from their response to conceding early on, proving that Germany can be defensively vulnerable.
Germany should complete the job from here, but fears over a record defeat for Curacao seem ill-founded based on this stirring, energetic first-half performance.
Half-time
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The first half in Houston is brought to an end and Germany lead 3-1 at the break. Curacao made history with their first-ever World Cup goal but Germany are in control at the break.
GOAL! Havertz deposits penalty
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The Arsenal forward makes no mistake, slotting into the bottom left corner, and Germany are 3-1 up just before half-time. A clinical finish from Havertz and the Curacao keeper Room went the wrong way anyway.
PENALTY GERMANY!
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Nmecha is brought down by Bazoer and the referee points to the spot. It is a clear penalty as Nmecha fakes the shot and takes it around Bazoer, who then brings Nmecha down. Germany will have the chance to go 3-1 up just on the stroke of half-time.
Havertz will take...
45+1 mins: Germany 2 Curacao 1
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J Bacuna makes a crucial block inside his own penalty area to deny Pavlovic. That shot Pavlovic looked like it might have bene goal-bound.
45 mins: Germany 2 Curacao 1
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Schlotterbeck is causing Curacao real problems from set-pieces and he meets another corner, this time his header is blocked, but Curacao have to find a way of preventing Schlotterbeck from meeting these set-pieces.
There will be four added minutes at the end of this first half.
43 mins: Germany 2 Curacao 1
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Turns out the DJ at Houston Stadium may just have taken one German-related record/CD/download on his USB stick to the match today. He just played a reprise of Major Tom (Coming Home), shame. Was hoping for Sven Väth, of Jam & Spoon for a bit of a Love Parade vibe to proceedings.
41 mins: Germany 2 Curacao 1
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Wirtz has been pulling the strings for Germany and been the best player on the pitch thus far. He is finding pockets of space and dictating play. There have been some quite sensational touches and passes from the Liverpool man.
GOAL! Schlotterbeck restores Germany’s lead
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I do not think you can that Germany do not deserve to back in front. Schlotterbeck has looked a threat from set-pieces two or three times already and now finds the goal. Brown clips in a inswinging corner from the right and picks out the head of Schlotterbeck, who heads into the far corner for his first international goal.
33 mins: Germany 1 Curacao 1
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Germany could and perhaps should be back in front. Wirtz plays a quite sensational through ball to perfectly pick out the run of Sane but the former Manchester City man has his shot blocked well by Fonville. A crucial block by Fonville.
32 mins: Germany 1 Curacao 1
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Germany need to be careful here as Curacao are looking a threat on the counter and Germany look a little vulnerable on transition when they lose the ball.
30 mins: Germany 1 Curacao 1
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After great work by Wirtz out on Germany’s right, he plays it to Sane, who lays it across the face of the penalty area into the path of Pavlovic. The Bayern Munich midfielder takes one touch before getting a shot away, which is deflected behind for a corner, which is headed away.
28 mins: Germany 1 Curacao 1
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After Musiala is fouled out on the right near the byline, Kimmich clips in the free-kick. The Germany captain picks out Schlotterbeck at the back post and the Borussia Dortmund defender’s header is tipped over the bar by Room, who then punches away the corner.
23 mins: Germany 1 Curacao 1
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Curacao want a penalty but that is never a penalty in a million years. Locadia goes down under a challenge from Tah but it is not a foul and went down far too softly as there was barely any contact.
Time for the hydration break.
GOAL! Comenencia makes history for Curacao
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The debutants are back on level terms and what a moment for the nation of Curacao! The ball falls at the feet of Comenencia on the edge of the Germany box and he takes the shot on first time. It takes a significant deflection off Germany captain Kimmich, which takes it past Neuer. The Curacao fans inside this stadium and back home are jumping for joy.
Crikey, isn’t football great?
This has been a very impressive response from Curacao to the early goal and the equaliser did look like it was coming.
Dick Advocaat, their 78 year old head coach, will be delighted. Germany need this hydration break to recover from a mini-wobble.
20 mins: Germany 1 Curacao 0
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Wirtz cuts inside from the left and spots the run of Havertz into the Curacao box. The Liverpool man whips in the cross looking for the Arsenal forward but it is slightly out of his reach.
Good to hear that the resident vibes-meister in the Houston Stadium had their celebratory music cued up in time for Felix Nmecha’s opening goal. Major Tom (Coming Home), a classic piece of early 1980s German new wave recorded by Peter Schilling, was pumped out while fans of Die Mannschaft celebrated wildly. If readers watched the brilliant German drama Deutschland 83 a few years ago, they will know this song.
19 mins: Germany 1 Curacao 0
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Curacao make one of their first proper forays forward into the German final third and it ends up with L Bacuna taking on a shot from distance but the former Aston Villa man blazes his effort high into the stands.
14 mins: Germany 1 Curacao 0
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Nearly a second for Germany and they continue knocking down the door for that second goal. Wirtz cuts inside from the left with clever footwork and, from the edge of the box, looks to curl one into the far corner but it goes narrowly wide of the far post.
12 mins: Germany 1 Curacao 0
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The chances keep coming for Germany as Pavlovic clips a ball into the box to pick out Nmecha, who takes it down and shoots but it is straight at Room. Nmecha has already had three chances in this game, scoring one of them.
11 mins: Germany 1 Curacao 0
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Another chance for Germany as Musiala slides a pass forward into the path of Sane on the right side of the Curacao box. Sane cuts inside onto his preferred left boot but has plenty of bodies around him as he shoots. That slightly puts him off and it did take a deflection but a goal kick is given. Germany are starting to purr and the likes of Wirtz and Musiala are really enjoying themselves, causing Curacao all sorts of problems already.
8 mins: Germany 1 Curacao 0
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Nmecha already has one stunning goal to his name and he is inches away from another minutes later. Space opens up for Nmecha outside the Curacao penalty area and eyes up the top corner. He strikes it so powerfully but it goes just wide of the far post. Curacao keeper Room was nowhere near it.
GOAL! Nmecha stunner puts Germany in front
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What a way for the Germans to kick off their tournament with a sublime goal just five minutes into the game! Moments after Musiala has a shot blocked, Germany do then score. Nmecha and Wirtz exchange a one-two on the edge of the Curacao box, with Wirtz taking one touch before laying it off to Nmecha sublimely. Nmecha then opens up his body to hit it first time and curls it into the far corner. A fantastic assist from Wirtz and a stunning finish from Nmecha. A top-quality goal from Germany and the worst possible start for the debutants Curacao.
This was always going to be about Germany’s professionalism and focus and, ominously, they look in the mood here.
Curacao managed to hold on for just under six minutes. Game-plan out the window already.
2 mins: Germany 0 Curacao 0
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The first moment of danger for Curacao. Great link-up play between Wirtz and Brown down Germany’s left results in the latter putting a dangerous ball across from the left side of the Curacao box but it does not result in a shot.
Kick-off
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We are under way in Houston. Will four-time world champions Germany make light work of the newbies or can debutants Curacao cause a major shock?
The atmosphere inside Houston Stadium is fantastic as the game gets going.
Reminder of the teams
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Germany: Neuer; Kimmich, Tah, Schlotterbeck, Brown; Pavlovic, Nmecha; Sane, Musiala, Wirtz; Havertz.
Substitutes: Baumann, Nubel, Rudiger, Anton, Goretzka, Leweling, Woltemade, Gross, Beier, Stiller, Amiri, Raum, Thiaw, Ouedraogo, Undav.
Curacao: Room; Floranus, Bazoer, Obispo, Fonville; Comenencia, Leandro Bacuna; Hansen, Chong Juninho Bacuna; Locadia.
Substitutes: Bodak, Doornbusch, Sambo, Gaari, van Eijma, Roemeratoe, Antonisse, Noslin, Gorre, Martha, Margaritha, Kuwas, Kastaneer, Brenet, Felida.
Anthem time
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As we have come to see at this World Cup already, all members of both squads make their way out to the centre circle for the national anthems, with their flags covering most of the pitch around them. It is quite the sight!
Germany’s Deutschlandlied followed by Curacao’s Himno di Kòrsou.
Can you imagine if Oxford played at the World Cup!
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Inevitably, there will be the moans about how a nation with roughly the population of Oxford can participate in a World Cup, but Curacao is what football should be about.
Imagine the feeling of those players and their noisy supporters when this game kicks off in Houston. It’s the stuff of dreams.
Now the reality check, and this is obviously going to be a huge test against the four-times winners.
There has already been discussion over a potential record biggest win in World Cup history. Hungary’s 10-1 win over El Salvador is the record, which Curacao will be desperate to avoid. They just want to make history this evening for all the right reasons.
Juan Mata on ITV
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— ITV Football (@itvfootball) June 14, 2026"Here he is coming on for me... this unfortunately happened too often" 😂
Juan Mata talks about his former Man United teammate Tahith Chong pic.twitter.com/4EsLpDbfjW
Liverpool’s Florian Wirtz a key man for Germany
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Weather update
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It is just over 30 degrees in Houston this afternoon and there is the threat of thunderstorms but that will not be of concern as the Houston Stadium is an indoor arena and has air conditioning so no need to worry about the weather for this one!
A mere 72 places
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Germany sit tenth in the world rankings, with the likes of the Netherlands, Belgium and Croatia in and around them. Drop down just 72 places from Germany and you will find Curacao in 82nd, with Montenegro and Guinea directly above them and Syria and Haiti just below them.
Emma Hayes on ITV
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— ITV Football (@itvfootball) June 14, 2026"It's what [Julian] Nagelsmann thinks is his best team - regardless of the opponent" 👏
Emma Hayes on the strong Germany side to play Curacao pic.twitter.com/5PyocH75Xc
Youngest versus oldest
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This match will pit the youngest head coach in the tournament, 38-year-old Julian Nagelsmann, against the oldest in 78-year-old Dick Advocaat, who is coaching his eighth different national team.
“Dick Advocaat is a brilliant guy,” Nagelsmann said. “I think he is a really cool coach [who has done] a brilliant job in Curaçao. It is incredible history that they qualify for the World Cup for the first time, and it is also a great compliment for his work. It is always [good] to talk to people with such experience. Me as a young coach, I always can learn from people like him.”
“He [Nagelsmann] is a young coach, young and famous,” Advocaat said. “To already become the coach of the national team, you must have something special, and he has that. We will make life very difficult for him tomorrow, at least that is what we try. But he is an excellent coach.”
Form coming into the tournament
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Germany:
June 2026: USA 2 Germany 1 (Friendly)
May 2026: Germany 4 Finland 0 (Friendly)
March 2026: Germany 2 Ghana 1 (Friendly)
March 2026: Switzerland 4 Germany 3 (Friendly)
November 2025: Germany 6 Slovakia 0 (World Cup qualifying)
Curacao:
June 2026: Curacao 4 Aruba 0 (Friendly)
May 2026: Scotland 4 Curacao 1 (Friendly)
March 2026: Australia 5 Curacao 1 (Friendly)
March 2026: China 2 Curacao 0 (Friendly)
November 2025: Jamaica 0 Curacao 0 (World Cup qualifying)
Back after two years away
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Manuel Neuer retired from international football after Germany were knocked out by Spain at Euro 2024 but the 40-year-old is back to start for Germany today.
Teams in full
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Germany: Neuer; Kimmich, Tah, Schlotterbeck, Brown; Pavlovic, Nmecha; Sane, Musiala, Wirtz; Havertz.
Substitutes: Baumann, Nubel, Rudiger, Anton, Goretzka, Leweling, Woltemade, Gross, Beier, Stiller, Amiri, Raum, Thiaw, Ouedraogo, Undav.
Curacao: Room; Floranus, Bazoer, Obispo, Fonville; Comenencia, Leandro Bacuna; Hansen, Chong Juninho Bacuna; Locadia.
Substitutes: Bodak, Doornbusch, Sambo, Gaari, van Eijma, Roemeratoe, Antonisse, Noslin, Gorre, Martha, Margaritha, Kuwas, Kastaneer, Brenet, Felida.
Respective World Cup group fixtures
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Germany:
Tonight: Germany vs Curacao (Houston), 6pm
June 20: Germany vs Ivory Coast (Toronto), 9pm
June 25: Ecuador vs Germany (New Jersey), 9pm
Curacao:
Tonight: Germany vs Curacao (Houston), 6pm
June 21: Ecuador vs Curacao (Kansas City), 1am
June 25: Curacao vs Ivory Coast (Philadelphia), 9pm
Huge day for the nation of Curacao
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— Men in Blazers (@MenInBlazers) June 14, 2026The Curacao national team share a prayer before the nation's first-ever World Cup game 🇨🇼
Curacao are the smallest country to reach a World Cup and their 78-year-manager, Dick Advocaat, the oldest in tournament history. Another chapter in a remarkable story is written today 💙 pic.twitter.com/BFAGRbACGH
Back-to-back disappointments
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After winning the 2014 World Cup final courtesy of Mario Gotze’s winner, it is safe to say the last two World Cups have not gone to plan for Germany. They failed to get out of the group stages in both Russia and Qatar in 2018 and 2022 so the German fans will be hoping that Julian Nagelsmann can lead their nation to a better tournament this time around.
Curacao defied the odds to reach World Cup – with just one player born there
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When Curacao line up against Germany on Sunday, it will mark a remarkable moment in World Cup history: the four-time champions facing the smallest nation ever to qualify for the tournament. A team drawn from a population of 80 million against one selected from only 156,000.
Making their debut, Curacao – which is 40 miles off the coast of Venezuela – will do well to escape a group containing the European giants, Ecuador, who are 24th in the world rankings, and 33rd-ranked Ivory Coast. The tiny island, ranked 83rd, are the third lowest-ranked nation in the tournament.
How has an island with roughly the population of Oxford, Warrington or Slough, spread across about 171 sq miles, produced a team capable of reaching the World Cup? That they are even in the USA, Mexico and Canada is testament to an ingenious recruitment system rooted in their history.
Today’s games
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Group C:
Haiti 0 Scotland 1
Group D:
Australia 2 Turkey 0
Group E:
Germany vs Curacao
Group F:
Netherlands vs Japan 9pm
Scotland secured their first World Cup victory in 36 years earlier today, beating Haiti 1-0 at Boston Stadium thanks to John McGinn’s deflected goal. Australia claimed one of the shocks of the tournament so far as they beat Turkey 2-0 in Vancouver.
World Cup newbies take on four-time winners
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Four-time world champions Germany begin their World Cup campaign in Houston against newbies Curacao in the first-ever meeting between the two nations. There are a mere 72 places between these nations in the world rankings.
Despite winning the 2014 World Cup, Germany have bowed out at the group stages of the last two editions. Germany finished top of Group A in World Cup qualifying in Europe, winning five of their six games to finish three points clear of Slovakia. Julian Nagelsmann has led Germany at one major tournament before this one at the 2024 European Championship, where they lost to eventual champions Spain 2-1 after extra time.
“One of the biggest topics was to come as early as possible to the U.S. to adapt to the temperature,” Germany boss Julian Nagelsmann said ahead of the game. “We have [had] a lot of training sessions, exhausting training sessions in the last seven days here in the US to adapt. Also, we have some players who played the Club World Cup here [in 2025] and got used to the high temperatures. At least it is the same for both teams in each game. We have to drink a lot, stay hydrated. We have some things to do to cool down in the breaks and also during the game.”
Germany’s World Cup squad has a number of Premier League players in it including Liverpool’s Florian Wirtz, Arsenal’s Kai Havertz and Newcastle pair Nick Woltemade and Malick Thiaw. 40-year-old Bayern Munich goalkeeper Manuel Neuer, who retired from international football after their Euro 2024 exit to Spain, is back in the squad and, despite a recent calf injury, the goalkeeper is fit to play. They come into this tournament with consecutive friendly wins over Finland and hosts USA. They have lost Bayern Munich midfielder Lennart Karl to injury and has been replaced by RB Leipzig’s Assan Ouedraogo.
Curacao make their first appearance at the World Cup having topped their qualifying group, booking their place at the World Cup back in November last year. They have become the smallest nation by both population and area to qualify for the tournament. They lost 4-1 to Scotland but beat Aruba 4-0 in friendlies to prepare for this tournament.
It has been a chaotic few months off the field for Curacao in relation to the managerial situation. Back in February, Dick Advocaat stepped down as manager due to personal reasons, with Fred Rutten chosen to replace him. However, Advocaat is now back in charge and will be the oldest the oldest manager ever to coach a team at a World Cup. This is Advocaat’s third World Cup with a third different team, having led the Netherlands to the quarter-finals in 1995 and taking charge of South Korea in 2006.
“It was a big difference because those teams were under a lot more pressure than this team,” Advocaat said. “We have everything to win and nothing to lose. We [Curacao] think we can still surprise somebody and that is what we have to try tomorrow, and then the next game and the next game. And at the end, we will see what we have done.”
Ivory Coast and Ecuador are the other two nations in Group E. Team news from Houston to follow shortly.