Florian Wirtz Kept Quiet as Germany Begin World Cup Campaign with Comfortable Win Over Curaçao

Germany opened their 2026 FIFA World Cup campaign in emphatic fashion with a convincing victory over Curaçao in Houston, although the match briefly threatened to produce one of the most remarkable upsets in tournament history.

Julian Nagelsmann’s side ultimately secured a comfortable result, but not before a spirited Curaçao performance and a memorable equaliser briefly stunned one of world football’s traditional powerhouses.

It was also a relatively subdued afternoon for Florian Wirtz, who played a supporting role rather than dominating proceedings despite contributing an assist in Germany’s opening goal.

Germany Start Strong but Face Unexpected Resistance

Germany wasted little time asserting themselves and took the lead inside six minutes.

Felix Nmecha opened the scoring with a superb finish after being picked out by Wirtz, curling his effort into the far corner to give the four-time world champions an early advantage.

With Germany dominating possession and creating chances through Leroy Sané, Nmecha and Wirtz, the expectation was that the scoreline would quickly become one-sided.

Instead, Curaçao produced a moment that temporarily transformed the atmosphere inside the stadium.

Comenencia Delivers Historic Moment for Curaçao

Against the run of play, Livano Comenencia capitalised on hesitation in Germany’s defence and struck beyond Manuel Neuer to level the match.

The equaliser sparked celebrations among Curaçao supporters and offered the tournament newcomers a moment that will remain part of their football history.

Making their World Cup debut against one of the competition’s most decorated nations, Curaçao showed resilience and ambition despite the difference in experience and reputation.

For a brief period, the possibility of a historic upset appeared imaginable.

Germany Restore Control Before Pulling Away

Germany quickly regained composure before half-time.

Nico Schlotterbeck restored the lead before Kai Havertz extended the advantage from the penalty spot after Felix Nmecha was brought down inside the area.

From that point onward, Germany’s superior quality became increasingly evident.

Jamal Musiala added a fourth goal before Nathaniel Brown and substitute Deniz Undav also found the net.

Havertz later completed his brace to cap an authoritative performance and ensure Germany began their campaign with maximum points.

Wirtz Quiet Despite Early Contribution

Although Wirtz registered an assist, the Liverpool midfielder was noticeably less influential than several of his attacking teammates.

Germany’s attacking threat was shared across the side, with Musiala, Havertz and Nmecha attracting greater attention during the contest.

Even so, Wirtz remained involved in the build-up and contributed to Germany’s overall control of the match.

Positive Start for Nagelsmann’s Germany

After suffering group-stage exits at the previous two World Cups, Germany entered this tournament under considerable pressure to re-establish themselves among football’s elite.

While Curaçao earned admiration for their determination and unforgettable equaliser, Germany ultimately demonstrated the composure and attacking strength expected of one of the competition’s favourites.

For Nagelsmann and his players, it was a winning start — and an encouraging first step in their attempt to restore Germany’s place among the leading forces in world football.