Kai Havertz Scores Brace as Germany Demolishes Curaçao 7-1 in World Cup Opener

Germany wasted no time sending a message to the rest of the 2026 FIFA World Cup field, routing Curaçao 7-1 at NRG Stadium in Houston on Sunday afternoon in a Group E opener that was never in doubt. Kai Havertz led the assault with a brace, while six different players found the net as Die Mannschaft served notice that Julian Nagelsmann’s squad is built for a deep run on American soil.

The result extended Germany’s winning streak to ten consecutive matches and validated the pre-tournament hype surrounding one of Europe’s most dangerous attacking units. Coming in, Germany had scored 18 goals across their last five outings, and they picked up right where they left off. Despite entering as massive -20000 moneyline favorites, the performance left no doubt — Germany is a genuine World Cup contender.

Germany Dominates From the Opening Whistle

Felix Nmecha struck first in just the sixth minute, getting Germany on the board early and establishing the tone. Curaçao, in their maiden World Cup appearance, were clearly outmatched against a side of Germany’s pedigree, but they showed heart. Livano Comenencia pulled one back in the 21st minute — a moment that made history as Curaçao’s first-ever goal on the World Cup stage and briefly leveled the match. The celebrating didn’t last long.

Germany restored their lead swiftly. Nico Schlotterbeck headed home from a corner in the 38th minute, and Havertz converted a penalty deep into first-half stoppage time to give Germany a commanding 3-1 lead heading into the break. The second half was a procession. Jamal Musiala extended the lead two minutes after the restart, Nathaniel Brown added Germany’s fifth in the 68th, and Deniz Undav made it six in the 78th. Havertz capped a brace in the 88th minute, sealing the final score at 7-1 and making a statement that reverberated across Group E.

Havertz Delivers in the World Cup Spotlight

Kai Havertz was the undeniable star of the afternoon. The 26-year-old Arsenal striker, who now has 22 international goals across 58 appearances for Germany, has built a reputation for delivering in marquee moments. He scored the opening goal in the 2026 Champions League final and netted in Germany’s warm-up against the United States ahead of this tournament. On Sunday, he was once again the decisive figure, converting his penalty with composure before adding a second from close range with two minutes remaining.

Jamal Musiala and Florian Wirtz, Germany’s two most technically gifted midfielders, were also influential throughout. Musiala’s goal in the 47th minute came after a fluid combination that highlighted Germany’s quality in transition. Deniz Undav, who supplied the assist on Havertz’s second goal, was a constant threat off the bench and added his own name to the scoresheet. This was a complete performance top to bottom — not just from the stars, but from depth players stepping up when called upon.

What This Means for Germany’s World Cup Chances

Group E now looks like Germany’s for the taking. After this result, oddsmakers have the Germans as heavy favorites to win the group at -250 on DraftKings Sportsbook, with Ivory Coast, Ecuador, and Curaçao all facing an uphill battle. Germany’s next match comes June 20 against Ivory Coast — a stiffer test, but one where Nagelsmann’s men open as 64% favorites on the betting markets.

Zooming out to tournament-winning odds, Germany currently sits at around +1861 on FanDuel Sportsbook, with Spain and France still leading the way as the top-priced favorites. But a 7-1 opening-day demolition has a way of moving the needle, and the combination of Havertz’s clinical finishing, Musiala’s creative brilliance, and Wirtz’s continued development makes this German side genuinely dangerous in the knockout rounds.

For bettors who want to get in on World Cup action, the books are buzzing with elevated handle following Germany’s performance. If Sunday’s display is any indication, anytime goalscorer props on Havertz and Musiala should remain popular throughout the tournament. Havertz already delivered on pre-match hype, and with three more group games before a potential knockout run, the goals figure to keep coming. Fans looking to place their wagers can claim a new user offer through BetMGM’s promo code or the Caesars Sportsbook promo code before Germany’s next fixture on June 20.