Borussia Dortmund’s Players Star in Germany’s Comprehensive Opening Win In The 2026 FIFA World Cup

The 2026 World Cup is well and truly underway, and today, Germany kicked off their campaign against the Caribbean Island of Curacao.

Undoubtedly underdogs for the clash, Curacao did have the potential to frustrate Germany in this fixture, but with the abundance of talent on the pitch and in the squad as a whole for Germany, there should be no excuses for not getting maximum points from this game.

And they began the game with purpose, with Germany scoring after just 6 minutes in Texas, a familiar face for Borussia Dortmund fans, Felix Nmecha, scoring the goal. It was a classy finish from the midfielder who played a quick one-two with Liverpool’s Florian Wirtz, with Felix Nmecha hitting a first-time finish from just inside the box, into the right-hand side of the goal. 

Curacao then scored an unlikely equaliser after Germany seemed in control, following their opening goal. A ball in behind and despite Nico Schlotterbeck getting an initial tackle in, the ball fell to Curacao midfielder Livano Comenencia, who hit a shot towards Manuel Neuer’s goal, which was deflected in off Joshua Kimmich and hit the back of the net.

READ MORE: 

However, it was in fact Nico Schlotterbeck to restore Germany's advantage. Recently linked to Real Madrid, Nico Schlotterbeck showed that the talks away from the pitch aren’t affecting his performances on it. The Borussia Dortmund defender nodded in a corner from Nathaniel Brown, getting across the near post and ensuring he made first contact with the cross to convert the set piece for Germany.  

Germany would then go on to establish their dominance as Curacao began to look every bit a side who are ranked 72 places below Germany, with Kai Havertz finishing from the penalty spot just before half time, after Felix Nmecha was fouled in the box. Then followed three more goals for Germany, coming from Bayern Munich's Jamal Musiala, Eintracht Frankfurt’s Nathaniel Brown, VfB Stuttgart striker Deniz Undav and recently crowned Premier League champion Arsenal's Kai Havertz, adding the final goal and his second of the game, to make this an emphatic 7-1 win for Germany in their opening game in Group E.

READ MORE: 

Germany will now face the Ivory Coast in their next group game on Saturday, the 20th of June, with Julian Nagelsmann’s side hoping to put themselves in a comfortable position to progress into the Round of 32 of the World Cup, with 6 points highly likely to be enough to secure their spot.