Germany vs. Curacao live score, stats, result, highlights from 2026 World Cup Group E match

Curacao begin their World Cup adventure on Sunday as they face four-time champions Germany in Houston.

Dick Advocaat's team are representing the smallest nation ever to qualify for the FIFA tournament and are one of the lowest-ranked sides in the 2026 competition.

Yet this game represents a different sort of pressure for Germany and coach Julian Nagelsmann. They are expected to win convincingly against a team who will consider this fixture something of a free hit, and so anything but a scoreline emphatically in their favour will lead to questions about their credentials when it comes to winning the trophy.

The Sporting News is following the game live and will provide score updates and highlights below.

STREAM: Watch the 2026 World Cup live with fubo (U.S. only free trial)

Germany vs. Curacao score

Location: Houston, Texas
Referee: Jalal Jiyed

Starting lineups:

Germany (4-2-3-1, right to left): M. Neuer (GK) — J. Kimmich, J. Tah, A. Rudiger, N. Brown — F. Nmecha, A. Pavlovic — L. Sane, J. Musiala, F. Wirtz — K. Havertz

Curacao (3-4-2-1, right to left): E. Room (GK) — D. Fonville, A. Obispo, J. Gaari — S. Floranus, L. L. Bacuna, J. Bacuna, L. Comenencia — T. Chong, S. Hansen — J. Locadia

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Germany vs. Curacao match stats

Germany vs. Curacao live updates, highlights from 2026 World Cup

(All times ET)

Prematch

11:45 a.m. - TEAM NEWS: The big story is confirmed for Germany as 40-year-old Manuel Neuer makes his first international appearance in two years. Brown does indeed start at left-back ahead of Raum.

For Curacao, it's largely as expected, with ex-Manchester United winger Tahith Chong starting on the left wing. He'll be battling Joshua Kimmich.

10:09 a.m. - One question for Germany at this tournament concerns who will start at left-back. Nathaniel Brown, reportedly set to join Bayern Munich, got the nod over David Raum in the warm-up win over USA and is expected to start today. He had the chance to play for the USMNT through his father, but Germany was always his preference.

9:26 a.m. - This expanded World Cup isn't for everyone, but it's hard to overstate quite what it means for Curacao to be competing here.

We have waited for this moment…🇨🇼 pic.twitter.com/4bowvIJBeW

9 a.m. - Julian Nagelsmann confirmed on Saturday that Manuel Neuer will start today's game. It will be the first time he's been in the Germany lineup since their quarterfinal defeat to Spain at Euro 2024.

Take a look at the rest of the team news and projected lineups right here.

8 a.m. - Today's first World Cup game happens to be the first in history for Curacao. It's quite an introduction: they face the four-time champions, Germany.

Where to watch Germany vs. Curacao in World Cup

Germany vs. Curacao start time

• Date: Sunday, June 14
• Kickoff: 1 p.m. ET

The game at NRG Stadium kicks off at 1 p.m. ET. The second Group E match between Ecuador and Ivory Coast takes place in Philadelphia at 7 p.m. ET.

What channel is Germany vs. Curacao on today?

• TV channel: Fox
• Live stream: Fubo (U.S. only free trial)

Germany vs. Curacao is on Fox in the U.S. and can be streamed via Fubo, which is offering a free trial.

Below is where to watch the match in some of the other major global territories:

MORE WORLD CUP NEWS:

• Who will win the World Cup in 2026?
• Updated FIFA World Rankings
• How World Cup qualifying works
• Explaining the expanded World Cup bracket
• Full list of teams to qualify for 2026 World Cup

Germany World Cup schedule 2026

Curacao World Cup schedule 2026