Get all the team news from this meeting between David and Goliath in Group E.
Four-time world champion Germany opens the 2026 World Cup in a classic David vs. Goliath match against the championship’s history breakers from Curaçao – in Houston.
Here you follow the match.
On paper, Die Mannschaft are clear favourites to take all three points against the smallest nation ever to qualify for football’s biggest stage.
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However, the Germans are painfully aware that their last two World Cup campaigns have ended in spectacular failures. The giant of football power has been knocked out in the group stage both times – and lost the opening match both times.
Julian Nagelsmann hopes that his team – who are brimming with a mix of experience and talent – can finally put the recent disappointments of the championship on the shelf.
But facing Curaçao – a small island in the southern Caribbean with fewer inhabitants than many British cities and towns – could prove to be anything but an easy affair.
Led by the highly experienced Dutch coach Dick Advocaat – who at the age of 78 becomes the oldest manager in World Cup history – many of Curaçao’s players were born in the Netherlands, Germany’s traditional rival. It gives the game an extra spice.
Dick Advocaat has also announced that he is stepping down as Curaçao coach.
Germany team news
Manuel Neuer of Bayern Munich has gotten rid of a calf problem and starts in goal for Germany.
The 40-year-old goalkeeper has been brought back into the championship and will organize a defensive line consisting of Nathaniel Brown, Jonathan Tah, Nico Schlotterbeck and captain Joshua Kimmich.
Kai Havertz is at the helm of the Europeans, while Florian Wirtz, Jamal Musiala and Leroy Sané are responsible for creativity.
Germany’s XI: Neuer, Brown, Tah, Schlotterbeck, Kimmich, Pavlovic, Nmecha, Sané, Musiala, Wirtz, Havertz.
Curaçao’s team news
Advocaat has the luxury of being able to choose from a complete injury-free squad. Star player and captain Leandro Bacuna hopes to help the team create a huge sensation.
Midfielder Livano Comenencia, only 22 years old, will also try to stand out in this championship.
Curaçaos XI: Room, Floranus, Obispo, Bazoer, Fonville, Comenencia, J. Bacuna, Hansen, Chong, L. Bacuna, Locadia.
Facts about the match Germany – Curaçao
- Germany has won the World Cup four times, which is the most of any European nation along with Italy. Overall, only Brazil has lifted the trophy more times (five).
- Germany is participating in its 21st World Cup, more than any other European nation and only beaten by Brazil (23) overall. Since they were last out in 1950, Germany have progressed from the group stage in 16 of the last 18 championships – but have failed to reach the knockout stages in either 2018 or 2022.
- Despite being knocked out in the group stage of the previous World Cup, Germany had the fourth-highest expected goals (xG) of the entire tournament (10.1). Their 3.4 xG per 90 minutes was the highest of any nation, ahead of Brazil (2.20) and reigning champions Argentina (2.15).
- Curaçao is in the World Cup playoffs for the very first time. They are the smallest nation in both area and population to ever reach the championship.
- Curaçao are the first CONCACAF World Cup debutant since Panama in 2018, and they could become the first team from that confederation to advance from the group stage on their debut since Costa Rica in 1990 (who reached the last eight).
- In addition to scoring the most goals in the CONCACAF qualifiers (28), Curaçao also led the statistics for expected goals (22.7). Their four goals after high ball wins were only beaten by Costa Rica (6).
