Germany thrashes Curaçao 7-1 as World Cup debutants score historic first goal
Germany opened their 2026 World Cup campaign with a 7-1 demolition of debutants Curaçao in Houston, though the Caribbean side will remember Livano Comenencia's historic equaliser.
German fast start
Germany needed only six minutes to take the lead at NRG Stadium. Felix Nmecha finished calmly from inside the area after a slick move. Leroy Sane went close to doubling the advantage moments later, shooting wide, but the early pressure seemed certain to produce more.
Comenencia's historic moment
Curaçao, the smallest nation ever to qualify for a World Cup, stunned the crowd in the 21st minute. Right-back Livano Comenencia, 22, picked up the ball on the edge of the box and fired a left-footed shot that took a deflection to beat Manuel Neuer. It was Curaçao's first goal at a men's World Cup finals.
Advocaat's players had said before the match, and for a few minutes the Caribbean island was level with one of the game's heavyweights.We have nothing to lose.
Germany pull away before the break
The equaliser roused Germany. Nico Schlotterbeck headed in Nathaniel Brown's corner on 38 minutes. Deep into added time, Riechedly Bazoer fouled Nmecha inside the area and Kai Havertz drilled home the penalty to make it 3-1 at the interval.
- 6' - Nmecha opens the scoring for Germany.
- 21' - Comenencia equalises with Curaçao's first World Cup goal.
- 38' - Schlotterbeck heads Germany back in front.
- 45+5' - Havertz converts a penalty to make it 3-1.
- 47' - Musiala finishes from a Kimmich pass.
- 68' - Brown scores his first Germany goal.
- 78' - Undav adds a sixth.
- 88' - Havertz completes his brace with a lob.
Second half barrage
Julian Nagelsmann's side returned with the same intensity. Jamal Musiala collected a Joshua Kimmich pass and curled beyond the goalkeeper in the 47th minute. Brown then scored his first international goal with a cool finish on 68 minutes. Deniz Undav added a sixth ten minutes later, and Havertz completed his brace two minutes from time with a delicate lob over Tyrell Room. Sane missed another clear chance in the 63rd minute, while Curaçao had a Margaritha effort ruled out for offside.
Coach Advocaat makes history himself
At 78 years and several months, Dick Advocaat became the oldest head coach in World Cup history. His Curaçao side, the smallest by both population and area to reach a finals, will now face Ecuador in their next Group E match, while Germany take on Ivory Coast. Germany's seven-goal haul is the tournament's biggest win so far, surpassing the United States' 4-1 victory over Paraguay.
