Neuer Returns as Germany Eyes a Tenth Straight Win Against Curaçao

Germany meets Curaçao on Monday night at 8:00 p.m. in Houston, looking for a calm, routine victory after the surprises that opened the 2026 World Cup. Germany have won their last nine matches, five competitive games and four friendlies, scoring 28 goals in that run, and are widely expected to extend it to a tenth straight win.

Manuel Neuer is back in the starting lineup after missing the warm-up matches. It will be his first appearance for Germany since the quarterfinal loss to Spain at Euro 2024. Julian Nagelsmann has also started Felix Nmecha in midfield and Kai Havertz up front, with the team set up in a 4-5-1 formation.

Curaçao arrived at the World Cup as one of the tournament’s surprises, aided by the expansion of the competition and the fact that the United States, Mexico and Canada did not take part in qualifying. Still, this is being described as the toughest official match in the country’s history, at least on paper. Dick Advocaat’s side is led by single striker Jurgen Locadia, with Tahith Chong, the only player in the 26-man squad born in Curaçao, behind him.

Kenji Gora of Maccabi Haifa is named among Curaçao’s options on the bench. The game is being played at NRG Stadium in Houston, with Moroccan referee Jalal Jayed in charge. Germany, Curaçao, Ivory Coast and Ecuador are in Group E, and the remaining fixtures include Germany against Ivory Coast on June 20 in Toronto and Germany against Ecuador on June 25 in New Jersey.