Article by Mihai Șovei – Published Sunday, June 14, 2026, 10:57 p.m. / Updated Sunday, June 14, 2026 11:02 p.m.
The only goal scored by Curacao went straight into history, becoming the smallest national team in history to score at a World Cup.
Curacao, the smallest national team to score in a World Cup
Although it lost with a decisive score of 7-1, Curacao, participating in the World Championship for the first time, made history.
After Germany took a 1-0 lead through a goal scored by Felix Nmecha early in the match, Curacao scored its first goal at a World Cup on the very second shot on goal of the match when Livano Comenencia beat Manuel Neuer.
The success was not only the first goal in the final tournament, but also brought the status of the smallest participating national team in a World Championship that manages to score.
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The small island nation, located in the Caribbean, has a population of just 156,115 and a land area of just 444 square kilometers.
Until Sunday's duel, Iceland was the team that held this record. With a population of just 350,000 inhabitants, the national team from northern Europe scored two goals at the 2018 World Cup, the edition in which they participated for the first time.
Curacao became the third nation to score in their World Cup debut against Germany
The fact that this goal was scored against Germany makes it even more special considering that the Germans are 4 times world champions (1954, 1974, 1990, 2014).
Following the goal scored on Sunday evening, Curacao became the third team to score in the first match played at the World Cup against Germany.
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Morocco 1-2 West Germany (WC 1970)
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Algeria 2-1 West Germany (WC 1982)
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Curacao 7-1 Germany (WC 2026)
The team that Dick Advocaat used in the match against Germany
Holders: Room – Fonville, Obispo, Bazoer, Floranus – Comenencia, J.Bacuna, L.Bacuna – Chong, Locadia, Hansen
Reserves: Bodak, Doornbusch, Sambo, Gaari, Van Eijma, Brenet, Roemeratoe, Martha, Felida, Antonisse, Noslin, Gorre, Margaritha, Kuwas, Kastaneer
