Germany begins World Cup 2026 campaign against Curaçao in Group E clash

By Oliver Harrington — 14 June 2026 — 3 min read

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Germany’s strong start in Group E

Germany commenced their World Cup 2026 campaign against Curaçao, who are making their tournament debut, in a Group E encounter. The match saw Germany establish an early lead, with Felix Nmecha scoring the tournament’s quickest goal just six minutes into the game. He slotted the ball past Eloy Room, setting the tone for the European heavyweights.

Despite Germany‘s early dominance, Curaçao managed to respond with a surprising equaliser. Livano Comenencia scored midway through the first half, with his deflected effort beating Manuel Neuer and levelling the score. This unexpected goal provided a moment of excitement for the debutants.

Germany quickly regained their advantage. Nico Schlotterbeck restored the lead with a header directed into the far, bottom corner. Following this, Kai Havertz converted a penalty, sending Germany into the half-time break with a 3-1 lead. The first half was described as terrifically entertaining, with Germany playing well but leaving space for their opponents to exploit due to their aggressive and high rest defence.

Second-half dominance and further goals

The second half began with Germany continuing their strong performance. Just 90 seconds after the restart, Jamal Musiala added a fourth goal with a well-placed finish, further extending Germany‘s lead. His goal came after he found space to slide a low shot across Room, despite the defender appearing to have all shooting lanes covered. Musiala‘s return to fitness was noted as a significant boost for Germany in the competition.

Nathaniel Brown then scored his first international goal, adding a fifth for Germany. This goal came from an Undav flick on the volley, steered past Room. The goal was subject to a VAR check for offside due to its tight nature, but it was confirmed. Brown‘s performance led to speculation about his future, with suggestions that he might move from Eintracht to Bayern, a common path for promising German players.

Substitute Deniz Undav came off the bench to score Germany‘s sixth goal. Kimmich cut the ball back for Undav, who placed it into the net. This goal solidified Germany‘s position, demonstrating their attacking depth and marking a strong start to their campaign. Undav‘s goal was his seventh in his last seven international appearances.

During the match, Curaçao attempted to create further opportunities. Jearl Margaritha tried a curling shot from the left of the box, which narrowly missed the far angle. Earlier, Leandro Bacuna headed over from a free-kick in a promising position. Curaçao‘s conviction on the counter-attack was noted, with their probing efforts despite being behind.

A moment of note occurred when Leroy Sane missed a significant chance for Germany. A pass from Tah found Sane, but he sent his shot wide, missing what could have been his first World Cup goal. This was described as a clinical and emphatic miss. Germany‘s manager, Julian Nagelsmann, was observed wearing a distinctive shirt during the match, drawing comment.

The match also highlighted the contrasting levels of the teams, with Germany, a four-time World Cup winner, facing tournament debutants Curaçao. The other teams in Group E are Ecuador and Cote d’Ivoire, who are scheduled to play their match later. Curaçao‘s performance, particularly Comenencia‘s goal, was seen as a moment that will be remembered, with the player being known for scoring Curaçao‘s first World Cup goal.

The game provided insights into Nagelsmann‘s preferences, with players who did not feature in this match potentially being less likely to play during the tournament. The match concluded with Germany laying down a marker for a potential deep run in the competition.