Germany vs Curacao prediction, betting tips & preview – World Cup 2026

Germany will kick off their 2026 World Cup campaign on Sunday, when they take on Curacao in Houston.

Die Mannachaft will bid to take a step towards qualifying in top spot with a victory, while their opponents come in as the smallest nation in World Cup history in their maiden appearance.

Read our prediction, preview and betting tips for the game below, and make sure to check out our today's betting tips page for more of our expert predictions.

Germany vs. Curacao key stats

• Germany have won their last nine matches in all competitions.
• Germany have scored 28 goals and conceded six goals in their last nine outings.
• Curacao beat Aruba 4-0 last time out to end a four-game winless run and three-match losing run.
• Coracao have conceded 11 goals in their four games since qualifying for the World Cup.

Germany vs. Curacao preview: Can Curacao pull off historic World Cup upset?

Germany will raise the curtain of their World Cup bid aiming to put themselves top of Group E from the outset and extend a nine-game winning streak heading into the competition.

Their recent World Cup history has been disappointing, having dropped out in the group stage in their last two attempts after the 2014 glory in Brazil, the fourth in their history.

Julian Nagelsmann's side qualified in comfortable fashion, topping their group with five wins from six outings and ending with 2-0 and 6-0 wins over Luxembourg and Slovakia before getting the better of Switzerland and Ghana in friendlies.

Then turning their focus to the summer's tournament with a strong squad, headlined by attacking talents such as Jamal Musiala, Florian Wirtz, Leroy Sane, Kai Havertz and Nick Woltemade, but with exciting youngster Lennart Karl missing out through injury, Die Mannschaft took on Finland and USA in warm-up friendlies and came out on top in both, stretching their run to nine wins.

They now head into a group stage alongside Curacao, Ivory Coast and Ecuador with the hopes of reaching the knockout rounds for the first time since 2014 and will bid to start with a statement win.

Their opponents, meanwhile, head into their maiden World Cup as major underdogs and the smallest nation in the competition's history.

Curacao defied the odds to reach this summer's tournament in United States, Canada and Mexico, topping their second-round group in CONCACAF qualifying and pipping Jamaica to top spot in the third round to book their group-stage spot.

That ended with a draw to keep Jamaica at bay, but they went on to suffer three straight defeats to China, Australia and Scotland, before meeting Aruba in their final warm-up friendly and winning 4-0 through Joshua Brenet, Jeremy Antonisse, Livano Comencia and Juninho Bacuna.

They now turn their focus to the group stage and an opening trip to Houston with the hopes of pulling off an all-time World Cup upset to start with a win against the four-time World champions.

Germany vs. Curacao form guide & betting tips

Whispers predicts: Germany 4-0 Curacao

With Curacao making their debut on the world stage, on the back of their recent struggles, against one of the world's strongest sides, we can envisage Germany's strong squad getting up and running in style with a dominant victory. We are backing Germany -3 in the handicap market at 20/21 (1.95).

Germany have kept five clean sheets in their last eight matches, and we do not see Curacao having the attacking quality to trouble their strong defence. Both Teams to Score – No is priced at 1/2 (1.50).

Kai Havertz led the Germany attack in a near-full-strength XI in their final friendly against USA last time out and scored, making it goals in consecutive games and 22 in total for his nation. He will again start up front on Sunday and should have plenty of chances with a high-quality supporting cast against a weak Curacao defence and is priced at 4/9 (1.44) to score anytime.