FIFA 2026: Curacao Score First World Cup Goal As Germany Win Opening Game By Wide Margin

 

Germany kicked off their FIFA 2026 World Cup campaign with a 7-1 win against Curacao in the opening match, and climbed to the top spot of Group E.

Curacao had an impressive debut, despite the Germans' dominance. They spent most of the time defending their half with great composure and determination. To their credit, they scored their first FIFA World Cup goal through Livano Comenencia. 

The Germans took their turn to thrash the Carribeans, despite a committed effort to hold on to their goal in the first half. Kai Hervert scored a brace, including a penalty in the closing minutes of the first half. Curacao's return from halftime did not pay off as Germany extended their lead with four more goals. 

Felix Nmecha opened the scoresheet in the early stages. He did a one-two ball with Florin Writz and slotted home a left-footed shot from inside the box in the sixth minute. Livano equalised for Curacao on a counter, smashing home a left-footed shot into the right corner. 

Nico Schlotterbeck restored the lead to Germany, nodding home Brown's cross from the corner. Kai Havertz made it a third from a penalty drawn from dropping Nmecha in the box. 

The lead extended further from Jamal Musiala's strike from inside the box, receiving a through ball from Kimmich. As Curacao were drawn out of their half in search of goals, Germany found open spaces to score more goals. Nathaniel Brown warded off challenges and finished off Denis Undav's pass into the right corner of the post to make it fifth in the 68th minute. 

1o minutes after Undav scored the sixth goal, Havertz scored a brace, capitalising on a counter and slotted a left-shot lob to beat the goalkeeper, Eloy Room, into the left corner. 

Livano's goal opened the Caribbean's goal tally in the FIFA World Cup, and Havertz's penalty was the first to be taken against the country. They will face Ecuador in the next game, while Germany will take on the Ivory Coast. 

Overview

Germany had strong control of the game and made several serious attempts. Their opening goal was brilliantly orchestrated, but they had to dig deep to regain the lead. As the experienced side, they were good with set pieces, and the Caribbean side knew it. Curacao rightly managed the pressure coming from the German attackers. 

Chances and Defense 

Sane had one of the closest chances to double the lead for Germany and had his goal attempt blocked by two Coracao defenders. No. 15 of Germany's header was another moment from a set piece, but was neatly saved by the goalkeeper. Meanwhile, Coracao's best chance was their equaliser. Defensively, the Caribeans had a great attitude towards holding off Germany, avoiding needless free-kicks in dangerous areas. 

The second half saw plenty of chances for the Germans, and they scored from most of them. However, Juninho Bacuna's curly shot was Curacao's best moment of the second half.