Curaçao's World Cup debut ends in 7–1 loss to rampant Germany

Germany 7–1 Curaçao, a brutal opener, but the occasion was historic

Your team walked onto a World Cup pitch for the first time ever and the scoreboard did not tell the whole story. Germany 7–1 Curaçao in the Group E opener in Houston (1) (2) (3). Julian Nagelsmann's side are on a 10-game winning streak and Jamal Musiala, Florian Wirtz, and Felix Nmecha ran the show (1). Deniz Undav came off the bench and delivered a goal and two assists in 24 minutes (3). Dick Advocaat was visibly emotional before kick-off, this was the day Curaçao arrived on football's biggest stage.

Germany are on a rare run

Joshua Kimmich put it plainly after the match: "We've won 10 games in a row now and are on the right track" (1). He said the squad energy was positive even before the result. "We all have a common goal, and that gives us positive energy" (1). You ran into a machine firing on all cylinders, not just any Germany side, but one that has not lost in 10 straight.

The biggest win of the first round

Germany 7–1 Curaçao was the largest margin of victory across the entire first round of the 2026 World Cup (2). The tournament's opening matches averaged the most goals per game since 1958, and your team was on the wrong end of the most lopsided result of them all (2). It stings, but nobody else in Group E is looking forward to facing this Germany team either.

Two Dortmund players shone against you, and both could leave

Nico Schlotterbeck and Felix Nmecha were among Germany's best performers in the 7–1 win, and both Borussia Dortmund players have World Cup-related exit clauses that could trigger this summer (3). Dortmund face a potential €180 million dilemma if the pair move on after the tournament (3). Small consolation: you were watching two players at the centre of a major transfer story.