Germany showcased its strength as a title contender by defeating Curaçao 7-1 in their opening match of the 2026 FIFA North America World Cup.
On June 14, in a Group E match at Houston's NRG Stadium, Germany was led by Kai Havertz, who scored two goals. Dennis Undav contributed with one goal and two assists, while Joshua Kimmich provided two assists to help secure the victory.
Germany took an early lead with a goal from Felix Nmecha in the sixth minute, but Curaçao equalized in the 21st minute with a goal from Livano Comenencia, marking the team's first-ever goal in a World Cup finals.
Germany responded with a header from Nico Schlotterbeck and a penalty kick from Havertz, finishing the first half with a 3-1 lead. In the second half, Jamal Musiala, Nathaniel Brown, Undav, and Havertz added to the scoreline, demonstrating Germany's dominance throughout the match.
Ultimately, Germany's balanced attack featured six different scorers, confirming their status as a strong title contender with this decisive victory.
Meanwhile, despite the heavy loss, Curaçao, the smallest nation by population (approximately 150,000) to qualify for a World Cup, made history by scoring their first-ever goal in the tournament against Germany.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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