Germany Takes on Curaçao in World Cup 2026 Opener

Germany begins its quest for World Cup 2026 glory with a match against Curaçao on Sunday, aiming to reach the knockout stage for the first time since their last triumph in 2014.

Scheduled for June 14, the game will kick off at 6 PM BST at Houston Stadium in Texas. Under the guidance of head coach Julian Nagelsmann, Germany enters the tournament in strong form, boasting a largely fit squad. Goalkeeper Manuel Neuer has recovered from a minor calf injury and is set to start. However, the team faces a setback with the loss of 18-year-old Lennart Karl, who tore a muscle in training. RB Leipzig midfielder Assan Ouédraogo has been called up to fill the vacant spot on the 26-man roster.

Nagelsmann is expected to utilize a youthful strategy, likely deploying Felix Nmecha and Aleksandar Pavlović as a central midfield duo. Newcomer Nathaniel Brown is projected to take the left-back position, while Joshua Kimmich, Jonathan Tah, and Nico Schlotterbeck form the rest of the defensive lineup. Jamal Musiala, Florian Wirtz, and Leroy Sané will support striker Kai Havertz in the attack.

On the other hand, Curaçao, led by head coach Dick Advocaat, is entering this pivotal match with a fully fit team. Kenji Gorré has successfully recovered from a minor knee issue, and striker Jürgen Locadia, who recently faced a red card in a friendly against Scotland, is eligible to play in the tournament. Advocaat plans to leverage the experience of seasoned players, including the Bacuna brothers—Leandro and Juninho—in midfield alongside Livano Comenencia. Former Manchester United youth player Tahith Chong is expected to provide speed and creativity on the flanks, with Eloy Room guarding the goal.

Germany has shown impressive form leading up to the World Cup, winning all four of their recent friendlies, including a thrilling 4-3 victory against Switzerland and a decisive 4-0 win over Finland. In contrast, Curaçao secured their historic World Cup spot by drawing with Jamaica in late 2025, and despite a tough loss to Scotland, they rebounded with an impressive 4-0 win over Aruba in their last warm-up match.

Predicted lineups for the match include Germany’s Neuer; Kimmich, Tah, Schlotterbeck, Brown; F. Nmecha, Pavlović; Sané, Musiala, Wirtz; Havertz, and Curaçao’s Room; Sambo, Obispo, Gaari, Floranus; Comenencia, J. Bacuna, L. Bacuna; Chong, Gorré, Antonisse.

Fans in the United Kingdom can catch the match live and free on ITV1.