Germany opened their 2026 FIFA World Cup campaign with a commanding 4-0 victory over Curacao in Houston on Sunday, sending an early statement of intent in Group E. Goals from Nick Woltemade, Deniz Undav, Florian Wirtz, and Jamal Musiala gave the three-time world champions one of the most emphatic winning margins of the tournament’s opening days.
Germany controlled the match from the first whistle. Woltemade broke the deadlock in the first half with a composed finish after a quick exchange in the Curacao penalty area. Undav doubled the lead before the interval with a driven effort from just outside the box. Curacao, appearing in only their second World Cup and first since 2022, struggled to contain Germany’s pressing game and created little of danger at the other end.
Wirtz added the third shortly after the restart, cutting inside from the left and curling a precise shot into the far corner. Musiala completed the scoring late in the match with a finish that drew applause from the German fans packed into the Houston venue. Both players are central to Germany’s ambitions of winning a first World Cup since 2014.
Germany’s head coach, who took charge following the disappointing group-stage exit at the 2024 European Championship on home soil, said the performance was what the squad had prepared for. He added that Curacao had made things difficult early on and that Germany had needed patience to find their rhythm. The result keeps Germany on track for the knockout rounds, though the remaining Group E fixtures will test them more severely.
Curacao are playing their second World Cup ever and were widely expected to struggle against the European powerhouses in their group. Their coach acknowledged the defeat but said his players competed with spirit and that the experience of facing Germany would benefit Caribbean football in the longer term.
Group E also features Ivory Coast and Ecuador, who play later Sunday in Philadelphia. Germany’s result puts them atop the group on goal difference heading into the rest of the opening round. The World Cup has been running since June 11 with matches across three host nations. Germany’s next Group E fixture is scheduled for later in the tournament’s group stage, with their opponents and date still to be confirmed from the full bracket.
The result marks Germany’s return to World Cup form after a turbulent few years. The squad is built around a core of young Bundesliga talent and draws particular excitement around the partnership between Wirtz and Musiala, who have been compared to some of Germany’s greatest midfield pairings. Both scored on Sunday. The tournament’s opening days have brought high-scoring results from several strong nations, and Germany’s display reinforced the view that Europe’s traditional powers are among the favourites to lift major trophies this summer. The group stage continues through the coming week with all forty-eight nations playing their opening fixtures.
