Germany kicked off their FIFA World Cup 2026 journey on Sunday with a stunning 7-1 win over Curacao, who were making their World Cup debut. This Group E match highlighted the impact of players with Nigerian heritage on this big stage.
Two players with Nigerian roots, Felix Nmecha and Jamal Musiala, scored goals as Germany showed their strength as four-time world champions.
Their scoring came just a day after Folarin Balogun netted two goals for the United States in their first game against Paraguay.
Germany quickly took control of the match. Nmecha, whose father is Nigerian, scored in the sixth minute after a great team move.
This early goal set the tone for the game as Germany dominated possession, keeping Curacao pinned in their own half.
Despite Germany's control, Curacao made history in the 21st minute. Livano Comenencia scored, bringing the game to 1-1.
This was Curacao's first-ever goal in a FIFA World Cup and it briefly gave their fans hope of an upset.
But Germany responded quickly. Defender Nico Schlotterbeck scored again in the 38th minute. Kai Havertz then scored a penalty just before halftime, giving Germany a comfortable 3-1 lead.
Curacao's dreams of a comeback faded soon after the second half began. Musiala, a key player for Germany with Nigerian roots, took advantage of a mistake in defense to score Germany’s fourth goal in the 47th minute.
Musiala was born to a British-Nigerian father and a German mother. He has become one of the brightest talents in football and once played for England at youth level before choosing to represent Germany.
His goal showed how players with Nigerian heritage are making their mark in the World Cup.
Germany kept attacking, and Nathaniel Brown scored the fifth goal in the 68th minute. Substitute Deniz Undav added another ten minutes later. Havertz rounded off the scoring with his second goal in the 88th minute.
This win gave Germany a strong start in Group E and sent a clear message to their competitors as they aim for a fifth World Cup title.
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