Germany rout World Cup debutants Curaçao 7-1, but tiny island savors historic first goal
Germany began their 2026 World Cup campaign with a 7-1 win over debutants Curaçao in Houston, yet Livano Comenencia's shock equalizer will be remembered as the smallest nation to qualify scoring its first ever tournament goal.
Historic debut for the smallest World Cup nation
Curaçao, a Caribbean island of about 150,000 people (smaller in area than Warsaw), made its World Cup debut on Sunday against four-time champions Germany. The nation is the smallest by both population and land area to ever qualify for the tournament.
A shock equalizer and a FIFA post
Germany took the lead in the 6th minute through Felix Nmecha, but 15 minutes later right-back Livano Comenencia, who plays for FC Zurich, drove a shot from the edge of the box past Manuel Neuer to make it 1-1. It was Curaçao's first World Cup goal, and the moment reverberated globally.
Debutants Curacao scored their first-ever goal in their first-ever World Cup match against Germany, four-time winners of the tournament.
The faces of Curaçao fans after the 1-1 goal, their looks and smiles… They had just experienced something special. Just like a fairy tale, like a dream. And that hint of disbelief. Wonderful.
German response before and after the break
The underdog's joy was short-lived. Nico Schlotterbeck headed home a corner in the 38th minute, and Kai Havertz converted a penalty deep into first-half stoppage time (45+5'). After the interval, Germany kept the pressure high: Jamal Musiala scored in the 47th minute, Nathaniel Brown volleyed in a fifth on 68 minutes, Deniz Undav added a sixth in the 78th, and Havertz completed his brace two minutes from time.
- Felix Nmecha puts Germany ahead (1-0)
- Livano Comenencia equalizes for Curaçao (1-1)
- Nico Schlotterbeck heads Germany back in front (2-1)
- Kai Havertz converts penalty (3-1)
- Jamal Musiala makes it 4-1
- Nathaniel Brown scores from a volley (5-1)
- Deniz Undav strikes to make it 6-1
- Kai Havertz completes his brace for 7-1
Records and milestones at NRG Stadium
The 7-1 result equals Germany's legendary 2014 semi-final demolition of Brazil. It is also the nation’s second largest opening match win, behind an 8-0 defeat of Saudi Arabia in 2002. Germany now holds three of the five biggest World Cup victories of the 21st century (8-0 vs Saudi Arabia, 7-1 vs Brazil in 2014, and this match). With seven goals in Houston, the Mannschaft moved on to 239 all-time World Cup goals, overtaking Brazil's 238 to become the tournament's top scoring nation.
Curaçao coach Dick Advocaat, at 78 years and 260 days, became the oldest head coach in World Cup history, while Germany's Julian Nagelsmann is the youngest coach at the 2026 tournament. Attendance at NRG Stadium was 68,021.
