GER vs CUW, FIFA World Cup 2026 Highlights: Kai Havertz brace helps Germany beat Curacao 7-1

The four-time world champions ran out comfortable winners after a dominant second-half performance. Kai Havertz grabbed a brace, while Schlotterbeck, Brown, Undav and Musiala also found the net. Curacao will leave with their heads held high after Comenencia’s historic first World Cup goal and the way they competed in spells, but Germany’s quality eventually told.

A late free-kick almost made it eight when Raum clipped the ball to Goretzka, who slipped it back to Havertz, but the forward couldn’t connect. The final whistle blows on a night to remember for both teams.

Germany make it seven at 88'. Undav slips a pass through for Havertz, who has a defender tight to him but keeps his composure and clips the ball over Room. It’s Havertz’s second goal of the evening and Germany’s seventh of the night. The four-time champions are completely dominant.

Germany make it six. Substitute Undav gets on the scoresheet after Kimmich plays an unselfish pass into his path. The forward wraps his foot around the ball and guides a composed finish into the net. Germany are running away with it now.

Germany make it five at 67'. It’s a well-worked goal as Undav cushions the ball into Brown’s path on the edge of the box. The left-back meets it first time with a sweet volley into the far corner. Brown celebrates his first goal for Germany as the players head for the hydration break.

Germany come close to a fifth at 62'. Sane produces a brilliant first touch to bring the ball down from the air and then curls a shot towards goal. The finish drifts just wide though, and there is a collective gasp, everyone expected the ball to hit the back of the net.

Germany extend their lead further. Kimmich spots Musiala’s intelligent run and threads a precise pass into the area. The attacker takes it in stride and calmly places his finish into the bottom corner. Germany are now firmly in control.

Germany have their third goal before the break. Havertz rolls the ball into the net to put the four-time champions 3-1 up. Curacao’s historic equaliser has been well and truly cancelled out as Germany reassert control heading into half-time.

Germany respond almost immediately. Brown delivers an inviting corner into the box and Schlotterbeck gets across his marker to glance a header into the net. The four-time champions have their lead back at 2-1. Schlotterbeck can celebrate his first-ever World Cup goal at exactly the right time.

Chaos in Houston as Curacao break forward and punish a loose spell from Germany. The ball drops to Livano Comenencia on the edge of the box and his deflected shot beats Manuel Neuer. Curacao are level.

Leandro Bacuna slips the ball neatly through Jamal Musiala’s legs. The Curacao fans roar with delight, celebrating the moment like a goal.

Musiala flicks neatly to Sane, who finds space and gets a shot away. It takes a deflection and goes wide, but the referee signals a goal kick.

Germany’s pressure finally tells. Armando Obispo produces a superb block to deny Jamal Musiala, but Curacao cannot clear the danger. Florian Wirtz threads a perfectly weighted pass into the area and Felix Nmecha curls his finish emphatically into the top corner.

Germany 1-0 Curacao

Germany and Curacao are underway at NRG Stadium in their FIFA World Cup 2026 Group E opener. Curacao are in blue and yellow, Germany in their classic white with black-red-yellow stripes. Curacao kick from right to left.

Curacao started their 2026 World Cup journey with a perfect record in the second round of CONCACAF qualifying. In the third round, Curacao drew both matches against Trinidad and Tobago, won both against Bermuda and won one and drew one against Jamaica to secure their historic in the World Cup.

Manuel Neuer, who has recently been recovering from a calf injury, is set to be the goalkeeper and make his 125th international appearance. The 40-year-old, a 2014 World Cup winner, will be featuring in his fifth FIFA World Cup. Notably, Neuer had officially announced his retirement from international football in 2024. He made a U-turn to play for Germany.

ZEE5 has secured the India media rights for FIFA World Cup 2026. The Germany vs Curacao clash will be telecast live on Unite8 Sports channels in India. Live streaming will be available on Zee5 app and website. The fans in the US can watch the match on Fox and can also watch on Fubo or the Fox One App .

Germany and Curacao have never met in senior international football. Their FIFA World Cup 2026 fixture is a historic first between the two nations.

For Curacao, this is an historic moment. The nation, with a population of approimately 1.55 lakh, qualified for the World Cup for the first time, on the back of a brilliant CONCACAF qualifying campaign.

Eloy Room, Sherel Floranus, Armando Obispo, Riechedly Bazoer, Deveron Fonville, Juninho Bacuna, Livano Comenencia, Leandro Bacuna, Tahith Chong, Juergen Locadia, Sontje Hansen

Manuel Neuer, Jonathan Tah, Joshua Kimmich, Nico Schlotterbeck, Nathaniel Brown, Jamal Musiala, Aleksandar Pavlovic, Florian Wirtz, Leroy Sane, Felix Nmecha, Kai Havertz