Havertz seals seventh as Germany demolish Curacao 7-1 in World Cup opener

Germany launched their 2026 World Cup campaign with a 7-1 demolition of debutants Curacao in Houston, with Kai Havertz completing the rout as Julian Nagelsmann’s side served notice of their ambitions in Group E.

The result was a familiar scoreline for a German team that has endured back-to-back premature exits from the last two World Cups, and it represented exactly the kind of statement performance Nagelsmann would have demanded against opponents making their first appearance at the tournament.

Manuel Neuer marked his return from international retirement with a start in goal, having been persuaded to feature at one final World Cup after seemingly bowing out following Euro 2024. The veteran goalkeeper edged out Oliver Baumann for the No 1 shirt after Marc-André ter Stegen’s injury, and faced little threat from a Curacao side overwhelmed by the occasion.

Curacao, an overseas territory of the Netherlands, had secured an improbable qualification for the tournament under Dick Advocaat. Much of their squad is Dutch-born and carries genuine European experience, but the gulf in class against one of the competition’s perennial powerhouses proved insurmountable in the Houston heat.

Germany’s depth and quality across the squad was evident throughout, with the margin of victory underlining why Nagelsmann’s side are considered among the genuine contenders to go deep in the tournament. The Germans will now turn their attention to the rest of Group E, which also includes Ecuador.