Germany open their World Cup campaign against Curaçao in Houston with plenty of form behind them, but also two straight opening-game exits at the last two World Cups. Julian Nagelsmann's side arrive on a nine-match winning run, and they have scored two or more goals in eight of those nine wins. The question is not whether Germany can look good on paper. It is whether they can start this tournament in the same rhythm.
Germany's form has been ruthless, but the World Cup has not been
The recent numbers are hard to ignore. Germany have won nine in a row, with five of those coming in qualifying and four in friendlies this year. That run has been built on end product as much as control, because the team scored two or more goals in eight of those matches.
Oliver Thomas, writing for sportsmole.co.uk, summed up the mood neatly: "This nation is in great form right now." He also argued that Germany may sit in the middle tier of contenders rather than among the top few favourites, which feels fair enough. This is still a team that has not shaken off the memory of the last two World Cups, where they lost their opening group game and failed to recover both times.
Germany's opener on 14 June 2026 in Houston is the first chance to show that the current run means something at tournament level. Manuel Neuer, Joshua Kimmich, Kai Havertz, Florian Wirtz, Jamal Musiala and Leroy Sané give Germany a level of attacking quality that should worry most opponents. The issue is less talent than temperament.
Curaçao arrive with history on their side
Curaçao's first World Cup match is already a milestone. They are the smallest nation by both population and area to qualify for the men's tournament, and they are ranked 82nd by FIFA. They secured qualification by topping their group last November, so this is not just a celebration of reaching the stage, it is also the reward for a proper qualifying run.
That makes the opening fixture a strange one for them. There is no burden of expectation in the same way Germany carry it, and Dick Advocaat's side can play with freedom. L. Bacuna, J. Bacuna, Tahith Chong, Nathaniel Brown, E. Room and J. Antonisse are part of a squad facing a huge step up, but a World Cup debut is still a chance to make something of a night that will be watched closely back home.
Thomas said of the match-up: "Against Curacao, I just cannot envisage Germany slipping up against a team like this." That is probably the right starting point. Germany should win, but the more interesting part is whether they do it with the same authority they have shown through much of this run. If they do, the first major doubt around this group gets quieter very quickly.
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