Germany opened their 2026 World Cup Group E campaign with a 7-1 win over Curacao at NRG Stadium in Houston, with ESPN's scoreboard listing the match as full time and Bundesliga.com detailing a seven-goal response after an early wobble.
Felix Nmecha put Germany ahead in the sixth minute, the country's fastest World Cup goal since 2010 and the quickest goal of this tournament so far, according to Bundesliga.com's match report. Curacao answered through Livano Comenencia in the 21st minute, but the level score lasted only until Germany reset after the hydration break.
Nmecha Starts Germany's Fast Night In Houston
Nmecha's opener came after a one-two with Florian Wirtz, giving Germany the start Julian Nagelsmann wanted. The lead disappeared when Comenencia's shot took a deflection off Joshua Kimmich, but Germany did not let the match sit in that awkward place for long.
Nico Schlotterbeck restored the lead in the 38th minute, heading in a corner from Nathaniel Brown for his first international goal. Brown's assist was also his first for Germany, a neat footnote in a match that soon became much less tidy for Curacao.
Kai Havertz made it 3-1 from the penalty spot in first-half stoppage time after Nmecha was brought down by Riechedly Bazoer. That goal changed the halftime tone from nervous opener to controlled assignment.
Musiala And Brown Stretch The Margin
Germany needed only two minutes after the restart to score again. Kimmich played Jamal Musiala through, and Musiala finished from a tight angle for his first World Cup goal after going scoreless at the 2022 tournament.
Brown then added a goal of his own in the 68th minute, volleying in after substitute Deniz Undav flicked the ball into his path. For a player starting two days before his 23rd birthday, it was a fairly direct way to make the team sheet memorable.
Bundesliga.com also noted Manuel Neuer's return in goal, calling it his first Germany appearance since Euro 2024. Kimmich captained the side on his 111th international cap.
Havertz Finishes Germany's Seven
Undav scored Germany's sixth in the 78th minute from another Kimmich setup, then turned provider in the 88th as Havertz lifted the seventh over goalkeeper Eloy Room. Havertz finished with two goals, while Undav ended the match with a goal and two assists.
The result gives Germany immediate weight in Group E without needing any table math. The useful facts are already loud enough: full time in Houston, seven Germany goals, and a Curacao equalizer that became a short interruption rather than a lasting problem.