Germany open their World Cup with a statement: seven past brave Curacao

A World Cup opener is as much about intent as it is about points, and Germany delivered both. Julian Nagelsmann's side began their 2026 campaign by sweeping aside debutants Curacao 7-1, a scoreline that flattered neither the gulf in quality nor the brief scare the Caribbean nation gave them along the way.

Germany arrived under the usual weight of expectation that follows a four-time world champion, and the early signs were exactly what Nagelsmann would have wanted. They struck first through Nmecha and controlled the tempo, moving the ball with the patience and precision of a side that knew the result was a question of when, not if.

Then came the wobble. Curacao, refusing to be overawed on the biggest stage their football has ever reached, levelled through Comenencia midway through the first half, a goal that sent their tiny nation into raptures and, for a few minutes, hinted at one of the great World Cup shocks. For a country of fewer than 160,000 people, simply scoring against Germany was a moment for the history books.

Germany's response was emphatic and, ultimately, merciless. Nico Schlotterbeck restored the lead before the interval, and after the break the floodgates opened. Jamal Musiala, Nathaniel Brown, Deniz Undav and Kai Havertz, the last with a brace, piled on the goals as a tiring Curacao defence was picked apart. The German machine, so often questioned in recent years, looked fluent and ruthless.

The performance will reassure those who feared this Germany side lacked a cutting edge. Seven goals in an opening match is a statement to the rest of the field, and the spread of scorers, from midfield to attack, points to a team with threats all over the pitch rather than a reliance on one or two names.

The win puts Germany top of Group E and sets a confident tone for the campaign ahead. Nagelsmann will know sterner tests await, and that the manner of a win over debutants tells only so much, but a ruthless start beats a nervy one every time. The platform is built.

Group E now takes shape around that result, with Germany setting the early pace and their rivals knowing the bar has been set high. A statement opener does not win a tournament, but it buys belief, and Nagelsmann will take that gladly as the schedule stiffens.

For Curacao, the heavy defeat cannot erase the pride of a historic goal and a fearless debut. They leave the match having made their mark, and with the experience of facing the elite to carry into the rest of their group. For every result and storyline, follow the latest football news.