Germany forward Kai Havertz (7) celebrates after scoring against Curaçao on a penalty kick during the first half of a World Cup Group E soccer match in Houston, Sunday, June 14, 2026.
Brett Coomer/Houston Chronicle
Curaçao fans celebrate after scoring against Germany during the first half of a World Cup Group E soccer match in Houston, Sunday, June 14, 2026.
Brett Coomer/Houston Chronicle
Germany midfielder Felix Nmecha (23) celebrates after scoring against Curaçao during the first half of a World Cup Group E soccer match in Houston, Sunday, June 14, 2026.
Brett Coomer/Houston Chronicle
Curaçao defender Armando Obispo (18) battles for ball control with Germany forward Leroy Sané (19) during the first half of a World Cup Group E soccer match in Houston, Sunday, June 14, 2026.
Brett Coomer/Houston Chronicle
Curaçao fans cheer as the teams take to the pitch to warm up before a World Cup Group E soccer match in Houston, Sunday, June 14, 2026.
Brett Coomer/Houston Chronicle
Germany midfielder Florian Wirtz (17) gets tangled up with Curaçao forward Tahith Chong (21) as they fight for the ball during the first half of a World Cup Group E soccer match in Houston, Sunday, June 14, 2026.
Brett Coomer/Houston Chronicle
Germany fans watch as their team takes on Curaçao Curaçao fans celebrate the teams first ever World Cup goal against Germany during the first half of game action at Houston Stadium on Sunday, June 14, 2026.
Elizabeth Conley/Houston Chronicle
Curaçao fans celebrate after scoring against Germany during the first half of a World Cup Group E soccer match in Houston, Sunday, June 14, 2026.
Brett Coomer/Houston Chronicle
Houston mayor John Whitmire arrives for the World Cup Group E soccer match between Germany and Curacao in Houston, Sunday, June 14, 2026. (AP Photo/Eric Smith)
Eric Smith/Associated Press
German fans cheer after Nico Schlotterbeck’s goal at a watch party at Houston Saengerbund during the first half of team’s match against Curacao in the FIFA World Cup tournament in Houston, Sunday, June 14, 2026.
Jason Fochtman/Houston Chronicle
German fan Lisa Schlichter shows off her FIFA themed cast with the German flag to fellow fans at a watch party at Houston Saengerbund during the first half of team’s match against Curacao in the FIFA World Cup tournament in Houston, Sunday, June 14, 2026.
Jason Fochtman/Houston Chronicle
German fan Marcus Nassar watches plat during a fan party during the team’s match against Curacao in the FIFA World Cup tournament at Houston Saengerbund in Houston, Sunday, June 14, 2026.
Jason Fochtman/Houston Chronicle
Dara Kotyzzka, right, reacts to a goal by Curaco which ties the match 1-1 alongside Ana Laura during a Germany watch party during the team’s match against Curacao in the FIFA World Cup tournament at Houston Saengerbund in Houston, Sunday, June 14, 2026.
Jason Fochtman/Houston Chronicle
Curaçao forward Tahith Chong (21) goes to the turf as he collides with Germany midfielder Jamal Musiala (10) during the first half of a World Cup Group E soccer match in Houston, Sunday, June 14, 2026.
Brett Coomer/Houston Chronicle
Germany midfielder Felix Nmecha (23) celebrates after scoring against Curaçao during the first half of a World Cup Group E soccer match in Houston, Sunday, June 14, 2026.
Brett Coomer/Houston Chronicle
Volunteers roll out the flag of Curaçao during pregame ceremonies before a World Cup Group E soccer match in Houston, Sunday, June 14, 2026.
Brett Coomer/Houston Chronicle
Curaçao defender Riechedly Bazoer (23). Germany forward Leroy Sané (19), midfielder Jamal Musiala (10) and Curaçao midfielder Leandro Bacuna, right, go after a ball during the first half of a World Cup Group E soccer match in Houston, Sunday, June 14, 2026.
Brett Coomer/Houston Chronicle
Germany midfielder Felix Nmecha celebrates after scoring against Curaçao during the first half of a World Cup Group E soccer match in Houston, Sunday, June 14, 2026.
Brett Coomer/Houston Chronicle
Curaçao midfielder Juninho Bacuna (7) gets tangled up with Germany forward Leroy Sané (19) and Germany midfielder Felix Nmecha (23) during the first half of a World Cup Group E soccer match in Houston, Sunday, June 14, 2026.
Brett Coomer/Houston Chronicle
The ball sails past Germany goalkeeper Manuel Neuer (1) as Curaçao defender Livano Comenencia scores during the first half of a World Cup Group E soccer match in Houston, Sunday, June 14, 2026.
Brett Coomer/Houston Chronicle
Curaçao defender Livano Comenencia, on the ground, celebrates with his teammates after scoring against Germany during the first half of a World Cup Group E soccer match in Houston, Sunday, June 14, 2026.
Brett Coomer/Houston Chronicle
Germany defender Nico Schlotterbeck (15) goes up for a header against Curaçao defender Sherel Floranus (5) on a corner kick during the first half of a World Cup Group E soccer match in Houston, Sunday, June 14, 2026.
Brett Coomer/Houston Chronicle
Germany scores against Curaçao on a corner kick header by Germany defender Nico Schlotterbeck during the first half of a World Cup Group E soccer match in Houston, Sunday, June 14, 2026.
Brett Coomer/Houston Chronicle
The World Cup pre-game ceremony between Germany and Curaçao begins at Houston Stadium on Sunday, June 14, 2026.
Peter Warren/Houston Chronicle
Curaçao defender Armando Obispo (18) and Germany forward Kai Havertz (7) battle for ball control during the first half of a World Cup Group E soccer match in Houston, Sunday, June 14, 2026.
Brett Coomer/Houston Chronicle
Germany midfielder Felix Nmecha (23) is tripped up and fouled by Curaçao defender Riechedly Bazoer (23), resulting in a penalty kick, during the first half of a World Cup Group E soccer match in Houston, Sunday, June 14, 2026.
Brett Coomer/Houston Chronicle
Germany midfielder Felix Nmecha (23) lies on the pitch after he was fouled by Curaçao defender Riechedly Bazoer (23), resulting in a penalty kick, during the first half of a World Cup Group E soccer match in Houston, Sunday, June 14, 2026.
Brett Coomer/Houston Chronicle
Curaçao fans watch as their team takes on Germany during the first half of game action at Houston Stadium on Sunday, June 14, 2026.
Elizabeth Conley/Houston Chronicle
Curaçao fans celebrate the teams first ever World Cup goal against Germany during the first half of game action at Houston Stadium on Sunday, June 14, 2026.
Elizabeth Conley/Houston Chronicle
Curaçao fans cheer as the teams take to the pitch to warm up before a World Cup Group E soccer match in Houston, Sunday, June 14, 2026.
Brett Coomer/Houston Chronicle
Curaçao fans cheer as the teams take to the pitch to warm up before a World Cup Group E soccer match in Houston, Sunday, June 14, 2026.
Brett Coomer/Houston Chronicle
The World Cup pre-game ceremony between Germany and Curaçao begins at Houston Stadium with the display of flags and national anthems on Sunday, June 14, 2026.
Reid Laymance/Houston Chronicle
Curaçao fans cheer as the teams take to the pitch to warm up before a World Cup Group E soccer match in Houston, Sunday, June 14, 2026.
Brett Coomer/Houston Chronicle
Germany midfielder Felix Nmecha (23) celebates his goal against Curaçao during the first half of game action at Houston Stadium on Sunday, June 14, 2026.
Elizabeth Conley/Houston Chronicle
Germany fans wave flags and cheer as the teams take to the pitch to warm up before a World Cup Group E soccer match in Houston, Sunday, June 14, 2026.
Brett Coomer/Houston Chronicle
Germany fans cheer as the teams take to the pitch to warm up before a World Cup Group E soccer match in Houston, Sunday, June 14, 2026.
Brett Coomer/Houston Chronicle
Germany fans cheer as the teams take to the pitch to warm up before a World Cup Group E soccer match in Houston, Sunday, June 14, 2026.
Brett Coomer/Houston Chronicle
The grass field at Houston Stadium gets watered about an hour before the Germany and Curaçao game.
Reid Laymance/Houston Chronicle
Curaçao fans cheer as the teams take to the pitch to warm up before a World Cup Group E soccer match in Houston, Sunday, June 14, 2026.
Brett Coomer/Houston Chronicle
Germany fans cheer as the teams take to the pitch to warm up before a World Cup Group E soccer match in Houston, Sunday, June 14, 2026.
Brett Coomer/Houston Chronicle
Germany fans cheer as the teams take to the pitch to warm up before a World Cup Group E soccer match in Houston, Sunday, June 14, 2026.
Brett Coomer/Houston Chronicle
Carrying coffee and kicking a soccer ball along the way, a soccer fan doesn’t mind the rain as he makes his way down Old Spanish Trail on Sunday, June 14, 2026.
Elizabeth Conley/Houston Chronicle
World Cup mascots Zayu, left, and Clutch dance on the sidelines as Germany and Curaçao take the field before a World Cup Group E soccer match in Houston, Sunday, June 14, 2026.
Brett Coomer/Houston Chronicle
Curaçao fans cheer as the teams take to the pitch to warm up before a World Cup Group E soccer match in Houston, Sunday, June 14, 2026.
Brett Coomer/Houston Chronicle
Julian Nagelsmann bears a heavy responsibility with Germany at this FIFA World Cup, but unlike his father, he will not be operating in secret.
On Sunday in Houston, he passed his first test in his World Cup debut, leading his team to a 7-1 rout of newcomer Curaçao in the Group E opener — a match that felt almost like an open training session before a crowd of 68,021 spectators who nearly filled Reliant Stadium.
“It took us a few minutes to get back into the game after they equalised. Curaçao can play football too, as we saw, and I’m curious to see how they’ll fare in the group going forward. I’m very satisfied with us scoring seven goals and our performance for the most part. A winning start is always important, and we’re glad we managed it,” Nagelsmann said.
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Nagelsmann, the young head coach of Die Mannschaft, is tasked with restoring the proud nation’s footballing identity at the sport’s most important tournament following the four-time champions’ recent failures in Russia (2018) and Qatar (2022), where they suffered the humiliation of failing to advance past the group stage.
The titles won in Switzerland (1954), on home soil (1974), Italy (1990), and Brazil (2014) are now distant memories, and Nagelsmann’s arrival marked a genuine change of course, steering the national team in a new direction.
In this new edition of the World Cup — hosted by the United States, Mexico, and Canada — he has already taken the first step by routing the underdog and debutant Curaçao side at Reliant Stadium in the Group E opener.
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FAN-FRIENDLY: A German fan gets special treatment from J.J. Watt
From the outset, it was clear this match against Curaçao would be a David-versus-Goliath affair. Making its tournament debut, the team from the small Caribbean island — a former Dutch colony — became the smallest nation ever to participate in a World Cup. The players did their best despite the vast gap in quality, but their fans were impressive. It was fantastic to see them celebrate the first World Cup goal in their history, cheer on their team, and send their players off as heroes at the end despite the crushing defeat.
Early Retirement
Nagelsmann, 38, was forced to retire as a footballer at the age of 20 because of injuries. He was a central defender for Augsburg and 1860 Munich, playing in their youth ranks and reaching the senior squad, but he was unable to continue his career after two knee surgeries. He channeled his love for the sport into a successful and rapidly rising coaching career, beginning at Augsburg as an assistant coach.
In footballing terms, he was shaped by the influence of Thomas Tuchel — the current England national team manager at this World Cup — during his youth. Tuchel coached him when he was a player at Augsburg.
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THE U.S.: A strong opener for the Americans
He made his managerial debut in 2016 with TSG Hoffenheim and later moved to RB Leipzig, where he excelled between 2019 and 2021. That success paved the way for a move to powerhouse Bayern Munich, which ultimately propelled him to the national team job in 2023 following Germany’s failure in Qatar under Hansi Flick.
However, it was not only in his professional life that he had to mature prematurely. Just as injuries forced a shift in his football career, he faced a traumatic personal experience during his adolescence when his father, Erwin, died by suicide at the age of 56. Nagelsmann initially struggled to grasp the situation but later said he came to understand it and move forward. The experience changed his perspective on both football and life.
In an interview with the German newspaper Bild, he revealed that his father had been a spy for the German secret service, leading a double life that was virtually unknown to his family.
“My dad didn’t leave a suicide note; there was no explanation. … It helped me to know that he really wanted to die. … I think I have to respect such a decision,” he told the British newspaper The Guardian in February 2024.
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A vegan who also played ice hockey before his injuries, Nagelsmann drew media attention in his home country when it was revealed that he had been in a relationship with a journalist during his time at Bayern Munich. He separated from his wife, Verena, with whom he has two children, in 2023. After he was later dismissed by the Bavarian club, the journalist left her job at Bild.
A Predictable Rout
On Sunday, in his World Cup debut, Nagelsmann faced legendary Dutch coach Dick Advocaat, who became the oldest manager in World Cup history at the age of 78. The generational gap — with his opponent being twice his age — was almost as stark as the disparity between the two teams on the pitch.
During the World Cup build-up, Advocaat stepped away from the island nation’s squad to be closer to a daughter battling cancer. However, her condition improved, and he decided to return to manage the team during the tournament.
In a match in which Germany grew in confidence as it progressed, Nagelsmann’s squad opened the scoring just six minutes in through Felix Nmecha, following a perfect combination with Kai Havertz, who was named FIFA’s Player of the Match.
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However, Livano Comenencia stunned everyone with a surprise equaliser in the 21st minute. His shot took a slight deflection, leaving veteran goalkeeper Manuel Neuer unable to control it.
Defender Nico Schlotterbeck — another key German performer in the opener — restored the European side’s lead with a header in the 38th minute from a corner kick delivered by Nathaniel Brown from the right. Havertz then converted from the penalty spot in first-half stoppage time (45+5), just before the break. The penalty was awarded for a foul by Riechedly Bazoer on Nmecha.
Shortly after the second half began, midfield maestro Jamal Musiala extended Germany’s lead with a tight-angle shot from the right in the 47th minute.
Brown scored the fifth goal for the four-time world champions in the 68th minute with a strike from inside the box. Deniz Undav added the sixth in the 78th minute with a touch from the edge of the six-yard box, and Havertz completed the scoring with an exquisite finish — a left-footed touch past the advancing goalkeeper — in the 88th minute.
In their next match, Germany will face Ivory Coast on Saturday in Philadelphia.
Germán Fernández-Moores is the editor of La Voz de Houston, the Houston Chronicle’s Spanish-language weekly. He can be reached at german.fernandez-moores@houstonchronicle.com.