Germany swung open the doors to the 2026 World Cup with an absolutely devastating massacre, leaving Curaçao’s debut marked by a historic and humiliating defeat. Seven goals conceded in their very first match at a World Cup finals — and right against a merciless “Mannschaft” — set off alarm bells for the Caribbean team, while Germany has already put the entire competition on notice.
The inaugural match of Group E at NRG Stadium in Houston was decided long before the final whistle. Julian Nagelsmann’s team, motivated by the ambition to reach the knockout stages for the first time since 2014, left no chance for the side managed by Dick Advocaat. Felix Nmecha opened the scoring just six minutes in, and despite a quick response from Curaçao, who equalized in the 21st minute through Livano Comenencia, the resistance of the newcomers was short-lived. Nico Schlotterbeck and Kai Havertz extended the lead before halftime, making it 3-1. In the second half, the German onslaught showed no mercy: Jamal Musiala, Nathaniel Brown, Deniz Undav, and once again Havertz sealed the overwhelming 7-1 victory, matching the iconic thrashing inflicted on Brazil in the 2014 semifinals. Curaçao, the smallest country by size and population ever to participate in a World Cup, was completely overwhelmed by one of the tournament’s main favorites, who are now preparing for a much tougher clash against Ivory Coast.
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In Group F, the drama was quite different. The Netherlands and Japan staged a true thriller with four goals at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas, in a match that was decided by fine margins and showcased why both teams are considered dangerous outsiders in this World Cup edition. The first half was balanced with few noteworthy opportunities, but everything changed after the break. Virgil van Dijk, captain of the Netherlands, opened the scoring in the 51st minute, heading in a pinpoint cross from Ryan Gravenberch. Japan responded immediately through Keito Nakamura, whose deflected shot deceived Bart Verbruggen and restored parity. The Netherlands regained the lead with a beautiful goal from Cryscencio Summerville, but Koki Ogawa, following a corner taken by Junya Ito, headed in powerfully to equalize. Ronald Koeman, the Dutch coach, did not hide his frustration at the result: his team, despite extending their unbeaten streak in the group stage to 17 matches, let slip a victory that seemed certain and lost two crucial points in the battle for first place in the group.
The debut of the Cape Verde national team in the World Cup is another major focus of this round, with high expectations but also fears that this historic debut could end in a nightmare. Facing them at the Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta is European champion Spain, one of the top contenders for the final victory. Coach Bubista knows that the difference in quality is colossal and admits that the priority will be to avoid a heavy defeat that could overshadow national pride: the “Blue Sharks” have never been so close to the big stages, but the challenge could not be greater. Despite this, their recent record — six wins in seven qualifying matches, along with two victories in preparatory friendlies — fuels some hope. The news that Lamine Yamal and Nico Williams will start on the bench may provide a small relief for Cape Verde, which will need to show resilience to avoid following in the footsteps of Curaçao.
In Group G, Egypt faces a huge test against Belgium, who take to the field in Seattle with all eyes on Kevin De Bruyne. At 34 years old, the midfielder is preparing for the last major international competition of his career, following an inconsistent season in Italy with Napoli. In a moment of honesty and ambition, De Bruyne made it clear in an interview with FOX Sports that he does not bear the burden of expectations alone and emphasized the crucial role of Jeremy Doku in Belgium’s aspirations: “Defending Jeremy for 90 minutes is impossible,” the captain assured. “He has also become more efficient over the last year. Now he chooses better moments to attack. If we want to have a top tournament, we need a good Doku.” Doku, at 24 years old, arrives at the World Cup in clear form and is seen as the game-changer.
With the group stage still heating up, these initial matches have already shaken up the landscape of the 2026 World Cup and are beginning to outline trends that could be decisive. Germany confirmed their status as contenders, and the Netherlands, despite a stumble, showed quality to go far. Meanwhile, Curaçao and Cape Verde face the challenge of avoiding being forgotten for the worst reasons. For Belgium and Egypt, the clash promises to open new perspectives in a group where anything can happen. The coming days will be crucial to understand who confirms their favoritism, who surprises, and who heads home early—and if the trend continues, fans can expect many more goals and stories to remember.
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