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Four-time winners Germany begin their 2026 World Cup campaign in a quintessential David versus Goliath encounter with tournament history-makers Curacao in Houston.
On paper, Die Mannschaft are clear favourites to take all three points against the smallest nation ever to qualify for football’s showpiece event.
However, the Germans will be acutely aware that their last two World Cup campaigns have ended in spectacular failure, with the seemingly perennial powerhouses crashing out in the group stage after losing their opening game on both occasions.
Julian Nagelsmann will be hoping his side – one brimming with a mix of experience and talent – can banish their recent disappointment on the grandest stage to the annals of history.
But taking on Caracao, a tiny island in the south Caribbean with a population smaller than that of many UK cities and towns, may prove far from a foregone conclusion.
Led by vastly-experienced Dutch boss Dick Advocaat – who at 78 becomes the oldest manager in World Cup history – many of the Curacao squad were born in the Netherlands, a traditional rival of the Germans, giving the occasion some added spice.
Germany team news
Bayern Munich’s Manuel Neuer has shrugged off a calf problem to start in goal for Germany.
The 40-year-old stopper was recalled for the tournament and will help marshal a back-line of Nathaniel Brown, Jonathan Tah, Nico Schlotterbeck and captain Joshua Kimmich.
Kai Havertz leads the line for the Europeans, with Florian Wirtz, Jamal Musiala and Leroy Sane supplying the creative spark.
Germany XI: Neuer, Brown, Tah, Schlotterbeck, Kimmich, Pavlovic, Nmecha, Sane, Musiala, Wirtz, Havertz.
Curacao team news
Advocaat has the benefit of selecting from a fully fit squad, with star man and captain Leandro Bacuna hoping to help the team cause an almighty upset.
Midfielder Livano Comenencia, at just 22 years of age, will also be looking to catch the eye at this tournament.
Curacao XI: Room, Floranus, Bishop, Bazoer, Fonville, Comenencia, J. Bacuna, Hansen, Chong, L. Bacuna, Locadia.
Where to watch Germany v Curacao
Germany versus Curacao kicks off at 6pm UK time. You can watch it on ITV 1 or stream via ITVX.
Click HERE for a full World Cup TV guide
Stats for Germany v Curacao
- Germany have won the World Cup four times, the joint-most for a European nation alongside Italy. Overall, only Brazil have lifted the trophy on more occasions (5).
- Germany will make their 21st World Cup appearance, more than any other European nation and second only to Brazil (23) overall. Since last missing the tournament in 1950, Germany have advanced beyond the first round on 16 of the last 18 occasions, though have failed to reach the knockout stages in both 2018 and 2022.
- Despite being eliminated after the group stage at the last World Cup, Germany ranked fourth in expected goals over the whole tournament (10.1). Their 3.4 xG per 90 minutes were the highest of any nation, ahead of Brazil (2.20) and eventual champions Argentina (2.15).
- Curaçao reached the World Cup finals for the very first time – they are the smallest nation by both area and population to ever reach the finals of the tournament.
- Curaçao are the first CONCACAF debutants at the World Cup since Panama in 2018, while they are looking to become the first side from that confederation to progress from the group stage in their debut since Costa Rica in 1990 (round of 16).
- As well as scoring the most goals in CONCACAF World Cup qualifying (28), Curaçao also led the way for expected goals (22.7), while their four goals from high turnovers was only bettered by Costa Rica (6).
