Germany win over Curacao
Houston: Germany kicked off their FIFA World Cup 2026 campaign in spectacular fashion, thrashing tournament debutants Curacao 7-1 at Houston Stadium on Sunday. The emphatic victory not only earned the four-time world champions three crucial points but also saw them break a historic FIFA World Cup record.
Heading into the match with 232 FIFA World Cup goals, Germany needed seven goals to surpass Brazil's all-time record of 238 goals. Their dominant performance against Curaçao helped them reach 239 goals, making Germany the highest-scoring nation in World Cup history.
The milestone further cements Germany's status as one of the most successful teams in international football, adding another achievement to their illustrious World Cup legacy.
Germany wasted no time asserting their authority. Midfielder Felix Nmecha opened the scoring in the sixth minute after being set up by Florian Wirtz. Curaçao briefly stunned the favorites when Livano Comenencia equalized with a clinical finish from inside the box.
However, Germany quickly regained control. Nico Schlotterbeck restored the lead with a powerful header in the 38th minute before Kai Havertz converted a penalty just before halftime to make it 3-1.
The Germans continued their relentless attack after the break. Jamal Musiala scored moments into the second half, while Nathaniel Brown and Deniz Undav added further goals to stretch the lead.
Havertz completed his brace in the 88th minute, finishing off an assist from Undav to seal a commanding 7-1 victory and write Germany into the history books.
Following their record-breaking win, Germany will turn their attention to a tougher challenge against Ivory Coast on June 21 at Toronto Stadium. The African side enters the contest with confidence after securing a 1-0 victory over Ecuador, courtesy of a dramatic late winner from Amad Diallo in Philadelphia.
The upcoming clash could prove crucial in determining the Group standings as both teams look to strengthen their chances of reaching the knockout stages.
