That's a wrap for our coverage of the FIFA World Cup 2026 Group E encounter between Germany and Curacao. A historic day for Curacao, and one to remember for Germany too as they begin their World Cup redemption journey in style.

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Germany are off to a great start. After two group stage exits in 2018 and 2022, they've ensured that 2026 begins on a positive note. Curacao gave them a scare in the first half when they equalized in the 21st minute. But ultimately, Germany's attack was too hot to handle. Florian Wirtz, Jamal Musiala and Kai Havertz were superb, but Felix Nmecha was arguably the 'Player of the Match'.

With two tricky games coming up, against Ivory Coast and Ecuador, this is exactly what Germany needed to begin their campaign.

FULL TIME! End of a bloodbath in Houston. A historic day for Curacao, as they played their first-ever FIFA World Cup game and scored their first-ever FIFA World Cup goal. But it's Germany who score seven goals and take home three points in the end. A massive 7-1 win for the four-time champions, who are off to a brilliant start.

FT | GER 7-1 CUW

90 1' Five minutes have been added on as stoppage time at the end of 90 minutes. Is that going to be enough time for Germany to score an eighth goal?

GER 7-1 CUW

89' GOAL! Germany lead 7-1! Kai Havertz is sent through on goal, he outpaces the defenders tracking back and delicately chips it over the Curacao goalkeeper to score Germany's seventh of the game. The famous 7-1 scoreline, last seen when Germany hammered Brazil in 2014, is back on the FIFA World Cup stage.

GER 7-1 CUW

78' GOAL! Dennis Undav adds to the scoresheet after coming off the bench. Lovely move reaches the box, with Joshua Kimmich overlapping from the right. The Curacao goalkeeper closes him down, but Kimmich cleverly squares it to Undav, who taps it in from a few yards out. Three Curacao players on the goalline but none able to stop it.

Germany now just one goal away from matching their historic 7-1 scoreline against Brazil from the 2014 World Cup!

GER 6-1 CUW

68' GOAL! Germany 5-1! Nathaniel Brown with another dagger on Curacao. A lovely chipped ball towards Brown, who scores on the half volley. Lovely finish from Germany's 22-year-old left-back. Could've been offside as Brown was really close to the last defender, but the referee says fair goal.

GER 5-1 CUW

64' First substitution for Germany. Julian Nagelsmann takes off Jamal Musiala and brings on striker Denis Undav. That'll likely mean that Kai Havertz drops into the midfield, where Musiala was operating.

GER 4-1 CUW

61' Curacao get a free-kick just on the edge of the Germany box on the left wing. It's a foul by Germany centre-back Jonathan Tah. Half an hour remains in the game, and Curacao need a goal soon if they are to keep their hopes of an improbable comeback alive.

It's a good ball in, header by Leandro Bacuna is just over the bar!

GER 4-1 CUW

47' GOAL! What a restart for Germany! Jamal Musiala scores his first goal of FIFA World Cup 2026, just 69 seconds after the start of the second half. Incisive pass into the box from Joshua Kimmich, Musiala latches onto the throughball and scores to make it 4-1 for Germany.

GER 4-1 CUW

Despite being two goals down, Curacao get a standing ovation from the spectators in Houston. They have more than held their own in the first half, scoring their first-ever FIFA World Cup goal too. Livano Comenencia has given people of the tiny Caribbean nation a moment to remember forever.

HALF TIME in Houston! The referee blows the whistle to mark the end of the first half, shortly after Germany's third goal. Germany's group stage ghosts from 2018 and 2022 looked to have been re-awaken when Curacao scored the equalizer, but the relentlessness of their attack has been too much for the Caribbean nation to contain.

HT | GER 3-1 CUW

45 5' PENALTY! GOAL! Felix Nmecha drives into the box, and is fouled by Curacao. It's a wreckless challenge, and the referee does nto hesitate to point to the spotkick. Kai Havertz steps up, and slots it home into the bottom-left corner. The goalkeeper goes the other way.

After a scare, Germany have taken a two-goal lead!

GER 3-1 CUW

45' Germany continue to pepper shots at the Curacao goal, but the minnows hold on, even clearing a shot off the goalline. Curacao are looking threatening on the counter, but they're being unable to stitch together an entire move.

We will get four minutes of stoppage time.

GER 2-1 CUW

39' GOAL! 2-1! Germany strike back, it's centre-back Nico Schlotterbeck who heads in from a corner. The set piece is swung in from the right, and Schlotterbeck scores with an impressive header. Germany end Curacao's spirited resistance, for now.

GER 2-1 CUW

36' Another chance for Curacao, who are continuing to have a few chances every now and again. Left-winger Sontje Hansen gives it to midfielder Juninho Bacuna, who takes a shot from the edge of the box, but it is just wide of the Germany goal.

GER 1-1 CUW

32' Unbelievable throughball pass from Felix Nmecha towards Leroy Sane into the box, but it's blocked by Curacao just as Sane was about to go 1v1 with the goalkeeper. Excellent defending from the World Cup debutants, who are throwing themselves on the line.

GER 1-1 CUW

30' Lovely build-up from Germany, Leroy Sane finds Aleksandar Pavlovic, who shoots towards goal. But guess who blocks it? Livano Comenencia, the goalscorer, who can do no wrong at the moment. Germany's resulting corner is also cleared out by Comenencia, and then Curacao try a counter-attack, but the wrong choice of pass by Tahith Chong brings it to an end. A player was running into open space on the other side, but Curacao miss out on the opportunity.

GER 1-1 CUW

Livano Comenencia, a Dutch-born right-back who plays for FC Zurich in Switzerland, has etched himself into the history books by scoring the first-ever goal for Curacao in FIFA World Cup history. A wonderful left-footed strike from the 22-year-old, who is the youngest player in the Curacao squad.

21' GOAL! HISTORY FOR CURACAO! 1-1! It is Livano Comenencia who scores for Curacao, and it's all square in Houston. First-ever World Cup goal for Curacao. A throughball is defended by Schlotterbeck, it falls to Locadia who plays it towards Comenencia, who fires it towards goal with his left foot. It's a deflected effort, and beats Neuer! 

First-ever FIFA World Cup goal for Curacao! 

GER 1-1 CUW

19' Welcome to the party, Curacao! An error by Jonathan Tah hands Curacao possession in Germany's half. Curacao build up through the right, cross the ball in towards Locadia in the middle, before it falls to Bacuna on the edge of the box. But the Curacao captain does not get a shot away. Ultimately, it's a left-footed shot from range that goes well over Manuel Neuer's goal.

GER 1-0 CUW

14' Florian Wirtz has a go! The Liverpool midfielder is playing off the left today, and he is looking in fine form. Wirtz cuts inside, finds some space and curls one towards goal, but it is inches wide of the target. 

GER 1-0 CUW

9' It is all Germany at the moment. Curacao have barely got a touch in the opposition half. Wirtz, Musiala and co. are dancing around the opposition defence, and it leads to another chance but Curacao defend it in their box. Leroy Sane cuts in and takes a shot moments later, but it's just wide.

GER 1-0 CUW

6' GOAL! Germany take the lead! Amazing build-up play, one-touch fluidity from the Germans, Wirtz with a cheeky lay-off, and it's a first-time strike from the edge of the box by Felix Nmecha that rifles into the top-right corner. Julian Nagelsmann is absolutely pumped on the touchline.

GER 1-0 CUW

1' WE ARE LIVE! Germany are attacking from left to right in the first half, here in Houston. The four-time World Cup champs are on the ball early on. Early chance too, as left-back Nathaniel Brown darts into the box and cuts it back in, but Curacao get it away.

Curacao then try to launch a counter-attack, but Germany stop the attack with a foul.

GER 0-0 CUW

For Germany, Jamal Musiala and Florian Wirtz will certainly be the two players to watch out for. Kai Havertz is expected to link nicely with the attacking midfield duo, while Leroy Sane should provide some pace and directness.

For Curacao, Tahith Chong is expected to be the creative spark, while Leandro Bacuna and Juninho Bacuna will add pace and power. Jurgen Locadia will bear the burden of goals.

We are just about five minutes away from the start of the FIFA World Cup 2026 match between Germany and Curacao. The players are out onto the pitch, and the national anthems are about to begin. First Curacao, and then Germany. Live action shortly, stay tuned folks!

Manuel Neuer, meanwhile, is now Germany's oldest World Cup player. He came out of international retirement at the age of 40. You read can a fantastic feature by NDTV's Sahil Bakshi on Neuer - CLICK HERE 

Germany's bench is full of massive talents, but 18-year-old Lennart Karl is not amongst those today. Karl suffered a thigh injury on the eve of Germany's first match, and has returned to Munich for further recovery. 

Curacao XI vs Germany: Curacao have also announced their starting XI for their first-ever FIFA World Cup match, against Germany. The Bacuna brothers start in midfield, with Leandro Bacuna captaining the team. Jurgen Locadia is the star name up front, while Tahith Chong will also be one to keep an eye out for.

Our starters for today #TheBlueWave #Curaao pic.twitter.com/PmrHAJfxVu

— Curaao National Football Team (@TheBlueWaveFFK) June 14, 2026

Germany XI vs Curacao: Germany have announced their starting XI for their World Cup 2026 opener against Curacao. Joshua Kimmich starts at right-back. It's an attacking midfield trio of Wirtz, Musiala and Leroy Sane. Kai Havertz starts as the striker. It's a strong call by Nagelsmann to start 40-year-old Manuel Neuer in goal, benching Oliver Baumann, who was the starting keeper before the tournament.

Fr Deutschland! #fifaworldcup #dfbteam GES, DFB/Thomas Bcker pic.twitter.com/ClvqL6XZSt

— DFB-Team (@DFB_Team) June 14, 2026

Politically, Curacao falls under the Kingdom of the Netherlands, and as such, most of the team's players are born in Netherlands or have Dutch heritage. The only player in Curacao's team to be born in the Caribbean islands is midfielder Tahith Chong, who formerly played for Manchester United.

This is not the strongest Germany side to ever compete at a FIFA World Cup. However, the biggest positive for the team is the midfield talent it possesses. In attacking midfield, Jamal Musiala and Florian Wirtz will bear the burden of providing the creative spark. Captain Joshua Kimmich is normally a holding midfielder, but is set to be the starting right-back for Germany in World Cup 2026.

Another one to keep an eye on is 18-year-old Lennart Karl, who has shone for Bayern Munich in the 2025-26 season.

By all senses, this is a battle between David and Goliath. Germany are four-time World Cup winners, they're ranked 10th by FIFA, and have a football history and legacy matched by few other nations. On the other hand, Curacao are ranked 82nd, their population is 0.18% of Germany's, and they're playing their very first World Cup match.

The tiny island of Curacao, located in the Caribbean, has just over 150,000 people. In land size, it is about a third of the size of India's capital Delhi. Yet, Curacao will be making their debut at the FIFA World Cup today. Ranked 82nd by FIFA, they will certainly be the underdogs heading into today's match. But a watershed moment in sporting history for the nation.

For a nation like Germany, who have four FIFA World Cup crowns, the last two tournaments have been disastrous. After glory in 2014, Germany exited in the group stage in both 2018 and 2022. They will hope that not only the bitter run ends in 2026, but they can make a run for the title once again.

Their journey towards redemption begins today, against Curacao.

Hello and welcome to the live coverage of the FIFA World Cup 2026 Group E match between Germany and Curacao. Four-time winners Germany take on World Cup debutants Curacao in their first match of the tournament. A historic day for Curacao; a day from when redemption starts, Germany will hope.

Stay tuned to NDTV Sports for all the live updates from the match.