Brazil kicked off their FIFA World Cup 2026 campaign with a draw against Morocco. However, rather than the 1-1 scoreline, it was the team’s disappointing performance that sparked the most discussion.
Amid this backdrop, debutants Curaçao took to the pitch for their opening match, carrying dreams of rewriting history.
Ultimately, however, the Caribbean island nation was no match for the sheer power of four-time world champions Germany. In a dominant goal fest, Germany routed Curaçao 7-1.
Julian Nagelsmann's side established dominance right from the kickoff. It took Germany just six minutes to break the deadlock through a goal from Felix Nmecha.
However, Curaçao—competing as the smallest nation by population in World Cup history—pulled off a stunning surprise. In the 21st minute, right-back Livano Comenencia found the back of the net, registering Curaçao’s historic first-ever World Cup goal.
The moment sparked ecstatic celebrations among fans of the 158,000-population nation packed into the Houston stadium.
Yet, the equalizer was short-lived. In the 38th minute, Nico Schlotterbeck restored Germany's lead with a header from a corner.
Deep into first-half stoppage time, Kai Havertz converted a penalty, ensuring Germany went into the halftime break with a comfortable 3-1 lead.
The Germans turned even more ruthless after the interval. Jamal Musiala netted the fourth goal following a pass from Joshua Kimmich.
Later, in the 68th minute, Nathaniel Brown added a fifth, before Deniz Undav made it six in the 78th minute. The Germans scored once more in the closing stages to seal a comprehensive 7-1 victory.
Beyond the scoreline, the match etched its place in history for another unique reason.
The 40-year age gap between Curaçao’s 78-year-old head coach Dick Advocaat and Germany's 38-year-old manager Julian Nagelsmann is the largest between two opposing head coaches in World Cup history.
While it was a reality-check debut for Curaçao, Comenencia's goal will remain an unforgettable milestone for the island nation. Meanwhile, Germany launched their title campaign with a resounding statement of intent.
