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JUMP TO:
- Germany projected starting 11
- Curacao projected starting 11
- Germany and Curacao World Cup rosters
- Germany vs. Curacao odds, prediction
- How to watch Germany vs. Curacao
Germany will begin their 2026 FIFA World Cup schedule against minnows Curacao as Die Mannschaft kick off Group E on Sunday at NRG Stadium in Houston.
Ranked 10th in the world and with four World Cup titles to their name, Germany are one of the most historic football nations in FIFA history, but have fallen on hard times since their last championship in 2014. They have been eliminated in the group stage in each of the last two tournaments, upset in embarrassing fashion in both Russia 2018 and Qatar 2022.
They open their 2026 tournament against the Blue Wave of Curacao, the smallest country by population ever to qualify for the FIFA World Cup. A Caribbean nation of under 200,000 people, Curacao will contest their first-ever World Cup final tournament.
The Sporting News brings you a look at the projected starting lineups for both teams, as well as an overview of their World Cup squads, plus odds, predictions, and how to watch the game.
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Germany predicted starting 11
4-2-3-1, right to left: 1. Neuer (GK) — 6. Kimmich, 4. Tah, 15. Schlotterbeck, 22. Raum — 8. Goretzka, 5. Pavlovic — 19. Sane, 10. Musiala, 17. Wirtz — 7. Havertz.
- Injured: Gnabry (thigh), Karl (thigh)
- Suspended: None
Young striker Lennart Karl was on the World Cup roster but had to pull out after tearing a thigh muscle while shooting on goal in training.
They are also missing Bayern Munich winger Serge Gnabry who suffered a muscle injury down the stretch of the season.
Legendary goalkeeper Manuel Neuer, now 40 years old, has come out of retirement to play one more World Cup for the national team.
Curacao predicted starting 11
4-3-3, right to left: 1. Room (GK) — 2. Sambo, 3. Gaari, 18. Obispo, 5. Floranus — 7. J. Bacuna, 8. Comenencia, 10. L. Bacuna — 21. Chong, 9. Locadia, 14. Gorre.
- Injured: None
- Suspended: None
Former Manchester United youth product Tahith Chong is the only player on the entire Curacao roster born on the island itself.
Brothers Leandro Bacuna and Juninho Bacuna are two of the most experienced players on the team, with serving as captain at 34 years old. Former PSV, Brighton, and Hoffenheim striker Jurgen Locadia now plays for Miami FC in the U.S. second tier and will lead the line up front.
Germany and Curacao World Cup rosters
Here are the names on the Germany and Curacao World Cup rosters. All caps and stats are correct as of the date of their announcement in May 2026.
MORE: Every World Cup squad for all 48 participants
Germany World Cup squad
MORE: A complete breakdown of Germany's 2026 World Cup squad
Head coach: Julian Nagelsmann
| GK | 12 | Oliver Baumann | Hoffenheim (Bundesliga, Germany) | 35 | 11 |
| GK | 1 | Manuel Neuer | Bayern Munich (Bundesliga, Germany) | 40 | 124 |
| GK | 21 | Alexander Nubel | Bayern Munich (Bundesliga, Germany) | 29 | 3 |
| DEF | 3 | Waldemar Anton | Borussia Dortmund (Bundesliga, Germany) | 29 | 12 |
| DEF | 18 | Nathaniel Brown | Eintracht Frankfurt (Bundesliga, Germany) | 22 | 3 |
| DEF | 13 | Pascal Gross | Brighton and Hove Albion (Premier League, England) | 34 | 18 |
| DEF | 6 | Joshua Kimmich | Bayern Munich (Bundesliga, Germany) | 31 | 108 |
| DEF | 22 | David Raum | RB Leipzig (Bundesliga, Germany) | 28 | 36 |
| DEF | 2 | Antonio Rudiger | Real Madrid (La Liga, Spain) | 33 | 82 |
| DEF | 15 | Nico Schlotterbeck | Borussia Dortmund (Bundesliga, Germany) | 26 | 25 |
| DEF | 4 | Jonathan Tah | Bayern Munich (Bundesliga, Germany) | 30 | 45 |
| DEF | 24 | Malick Thiaw | Newcastle United (Premier League, England) | 24 | 5 |
| MID | 20 | Nadiem Amiri | Mainz (Bundesliga, Germany) | 29 | 9 |
| MID | 8 | Leon Goretzka | Bayern Munich (Bundesliga, Germany) | 31 | 66 |
| MID | 10 | Jamal Musiala | Bayern Munich (Bundesliga, Germany) | 23 | 40 |
| MID | 23 | Felix Nmecha | Borussia Dortmund (Bundesliga, Germany) | 25 | 6 |
| MID | 25 | Assan Ouedraogo | RB Leipzig (Bundesliga, Germany) | 20 | 1 |
| MID | 5 | Aleksandar Pavlovic | Bayern Munich (Bundesliga, Germany) | 22 | 9 |
| MID | 19 | Leroy Sane | Galatasaray (Super Lig, Turkey) | 30 | 74 |
| MID | 16 | Angelo Stiller | Stuttgart (Bundesliga, Germany) | 25 | 7 |
| MID | 17 | Florian Wirtz | Liverpool (Premier League, England) | 23 | 39 |
| FWD | 14 | Maximilian Beier | Borussia Dortmund (Bundesliga, Germany) | 23 | 7 |
| FWD | 7 | Kai Havertz | Arsenal (Premier League, England) | 26 | 57 |
| FWD | 9 | Jamie Leweling | Stuttgart (Bundesliga, Germany) | 25 | 4 |
| FWD | 26 | Deniz Undav | Stuttgart (Bundesliga, Germany) | 29 | 7 |
| FWD | 11 | Nick Woltemade | Newcastle United (Premier League, England) | 24 | 10 |
Curacao World Cup squad
Head coach: Dick Advocaat
| GK | 26 | Tyrick Bodak | Telstar (Eredivisie, Netherlands) | 24 | 4 |
| GK | 25 | Trevor Doornbusch | VVV-Venlo (Erste Divisie, Netherlands) | 26 | 7 |
| GK | 1 | Eloy Room | Miami FC (USL Championship, United States) | 37 | 71 |
| DEF | 23 | Riechedly Bazoer | Konyasopr (Super Lig, Turkey) | 29 | 4 |
| DEF | 20 | Joshua Brenet | Kayserispor (Super Lig, Turkey) | 32 | 17 |
| DEF | 4 | Roshon van Eijma | RKC Waalwijk (Erste Divisie, Netherlands) | 27 | 27 |
| DEF | 5 | Sherel Floranus | PEC Zwolle (Eredivisie, Netherlands) | 27 | 27 |
| DEF | 24 | Deveron Fonville | NEC (Eredivisie, Netherlands) | 23 | 1 |
| DEF | 3 | Jurien Gaari | Abha (Pro League, Saudi Arabia) | 32 | 59 |
| DEF | 18 | Armando Obispo | PSV Eindhoven (Eredivisie, Netherlands) | 27 | 5 |
| DEF | 2 | Shurandy Sambo | Sparta Rotterdam (Eredivisie, Netherlands) | 24 | 7 |
| MID | 7 | Juninho Bacuna | Volendam (Erste Divisie, Netherlands) | 28 | 48 |
| MID | 10 | Leandro Bacuna | Igdir (TFF First Lig, Turkey) | 34 | 71 |
| MID | 8 | Livano Comenencia | FC Zurich (Super League, Switzerland) | 22 | 19 |
| MID | 22 | Kevin Felida | Den Bosch (Erste Divisie, Netherlands) | 26 | 19 |
| MID | 15 | Ar'jany Martha | Rotherham United (League One, England) | 22 | 8 |
| MID | 13 | Tyrese Noslin | Telstar (Eredivisie, Netherlands) | 23 | 6 |
| MID | 6 | Godfried Roemeratoe | RKC Waalwijk (Erste Divisie, Netherlands) | 26 | 27 |
| FWD | 11 | Jeremy Antonisse | Kifisia (Super League, Greece) | 24 | 26 |
| FWD | 21 | Tahith Chong | Sheffield United (Championship, England) | 26 | 5 |
| FWD | 14 | Kenji Gorre | Maccabi Haifa (Premier League, Israel) | 31 | 37 |
| FWD | 12 | Sontje Hansen | Middlesbrough (Championship, England) | 24 | 5 |
| FWD | 19 | Gervane Kastaneer | Terengganu (Super League, Malaysia) | 29 | 28 |
| FWD | 17 | Brandley Kuwas | Volendam (Erste Divisie, Netherlands) | 33 | 34 |
| FWD | 9 | Jurgen Locadia | Miami FC (USL Championship, United States) | 32 | 13 |
| FWD | 16 | Jearl Margaritha | Beveren (Pro League, Belgium) | 26 | 21 |
Germany vs. Curacao prediction, betting odds
| DraftKings (USA) | |
| Germany win | -3500 |
| Draw | +1500 |
| Curacao win | +3000 |
| Both teams to score | Y: +185 N: -235 |
| Over / Under 4.5 goals | O: +110 U: -135 |
| Germany -3.5 goals | -105 |
| Curacao +3.5 goals | -125 |
- Prediction: Germany 3-0 Curacao
Backing Germany to blow out another World Cup team, even one of Curacao's tiny stature, is aggressive, but the European giants should win comfortably.
Curacao are ranked 82nd in the world, the second-lowest ranking of any nation in the tournament field above only 84th-ranked New Zealand. They qualified ahead of both Jamaica and Trinidad & Tobago, who are regulars in the second tier of CONCACAF nations, an impressive feat.
Still, Germany will almost surely be too much for them to handle, even if the tiny nation can keep a lid on things for a little while.
Where to watch Germany vs. Curacao
- TV channel: FOX
- Live stream: fubo, Fox One, Fox Sports app/website
This match will be broadcast nationally on Fox in the United States with streaming options available on its dedicated platforms.
The best place to catch the match is on streaming service fubo, with new customers able to sign up a for a FREE trial.
Fubo offers a free trial for new subscribers, so you can try the service before you buy. Stream ESPN, ABC, CBS, Fox and 100+ top channels of live TV and sports without cable. (Participating plans only. Taxes and fees may apply.)
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