Germany kick off their World Cup 2026 campaign on June 14 at 19:00 CEST (Houston, Texas) against Curaçao — live on ARD and MagentaTV. Group E: Germany, Curaçao, Ivory Coast, Ecuador. This is Germany's long-awaited fresh start after EURO 2024 — and Julian Nagelsmann's lineup has sparked plenty of debate back home.
Updated: June 13, 2026.
Who's the favourite?
Germany, by a wide margin. Curaçao is a small Caribbean nation of roughly 150,000 people making their World Cup debut. Germany are among the tournament favourites and will aim to dominate possession from the first whistle. The real question isn't whether Germany win — it's by how much, and whether the opener builds confidence ahead of tougher fixtures against Ivory Coast and Ecuador.
Curaçao: the smallest World Cup nation ever
With around 150,000 people, Curaçao is the smallest nation ever to qualify for a World Cup. On the bench sits 78-year-old Dick Advocaat — the oldest head coach in World Cup history, who once led the Netherlands (1994) and South Korea (2006). Pure underdog romance — even if the roles against Germany are clearly assigned.
The lineup story
Nagelsmann has gone with Manuel Neuer in goal, backing the Bayern keeper ahead of Oliver Baumann despite Neuer's injury concerns. In midfield: the trio of Wirtz, Musiala and Sané — with Sané stepping in for the injured Lennart Karl. Up front, Nick Woltemade (Newcastle) is set to start, nominated as Niclas Füllkrug's replacement.
Expected lineup (4-2-3-1): Neuer – Kimmich, Tah, Schlotterbeck, Brown – Nmecha, Pavlovic – Sané, Musiala, Wirtz – Woltemade.
Tipping advice
- Germany win is a given. Focus your energy on the scoreline.
- Lean modest, not massive. World Cup openers tend to be tighter than expected — a 2:0 or 3:0 is more likely than a 5:0 rout.
- Watch Woltemade. A World Cup debut under pressure is a wildcard. His performance (and whether he's subbed early) will shape the game's rhythm.
- Tip before 18:45 CEST — lineups drop minutes before kickoff.
Create a tipping round and predict Germany's matches →
Where can I watch Germany vs Curaçao?
ARD (free-to-air) and MagentaTV (Telekom). Kickoff: June 14, 2026, 19:00 CEST in Houston, Texas.
Who is Nick Woltemade?
Nick Woltemade is a 23-year-old striker from Newcastle United, nominated by Nagelsmann as the direct replacement for Niclas Füllkrug. The World Cup 2026 is his first major tournament.
Which group is Germany in at World Cup 2026?
Group E: Germany, Curaçao (June 14), Ivory Coast (June 20), Ecuador (June 25). Curaçao is the easiest opponent — the Ecuador match will decide the group.
Updated: June 13, 2026. Prediction game, not a sports betting provider.
Astuces pronostics CdM26
Les astuces des meilleurs pronostiqueurs — par email
Avantage du terrain, timing à contre-courant, psychologie poules vs élimination — par email, gratuit, sans spam.
1 email/semaine max · désabonnement à tout moment · sans spam, promis