Florian Wirtz will make his World Cup debut for Germany this evening against newcomers, Curacao. He is one of seven Liverpool players featuring in the tournament.
The 22-year-old has become the main figure under Julian Nagelsmann, if they are to succeed in North America. That journey starts tonight in Houston.
The four-time World Cup winners enter the tournament looking to bounce back from disappointing World Cup campaigns in 2018 and 2022. Their 2014 World Cup triumph in Brazil now feels like a distant memory, with a new generation replacing many of the stars from that squad. Dick Advocaat will make history as the oldest manager to ever lead a team at the World Cup. Former Manchester United winger, Tahith Chong is the most recognisable name in the squad.
Wirtz did not enjoy the season he may have dreamed after he completed a £116 million deal to join Liverpool. Only showing glimpses of what he could do. Speaking with FIFA, he has stressed his desire to help Germany reverse their recent fortunes and play a leading role in the team’s success.
“Things haven’t gone quite as well in recent years, though, so we’ll be out to buck that trend. I want to play my part in making that happen and, as I said, to lead the way and drive the team on. That said, we’ve got a lot of good players who will stand up to be counted, so I don’t feel any particular burden on my shoulders.”
| Date | Match | Competition | Minutes | Goal contributions | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| June 6, 2026 | USA vs Germany | International friendly | 80 | 0 | W 2-1 |
| May 31, 2026 | Germany vs Finland | International friendly | 73 | 1 | W 4-0 |
| May 24, 2026 | Liverpool vs Brentford | Premier League | 17 | 0 | D 1-1 |
How to watch
- Date: Sunday, June 14, 2026
- Kickoff time: 12 pm local time (CT) / 6 pm BST
- Location: NRG Stadium, Houston, Texas
- TV/Streaming: Zee5, Fox (US), ITV (UK)
Recent form guide
Germany: Their last defeat came back in September against Slovakia, though, since then, they have been perfect. Close meetings with Switzerland, where they won 4-3, and Ghana, as they won 2-1, were slight bumps, but they still succeeded. However, last summer’s Nations League saw them lose to two potential challengers in Portugal and France.
Curacao: As they make their World Cup debut, they come in on a win after beating Aruba 4-0. However, that is their only real positive note ahead of the meeting today. Scotland put four past them in a 4-1 defeat, while also losing 5-1 to Australia and 2-0 to China back in March.
| Team | Recent Form | Key warm up results |
|---|---|---|
| Germany | W W W W W | 4-0 Finland, 2-1 USA, 2-1 Ghana |
| Curacao | W L L L D | 4-0, Aruba |
Injuries, absences and suspensions
Germany have fear that veteran sweeper keeper, Manuel Neuer, would be unavailable. However, it was confirmed yesterday that he would be available, with no injuries for either side.
Germany
- None
Curacao
- None
Predicted starting lineup
Nagelsmann has often deployed three behind his striker, as they all get involved in attacking actions. In both friendlies ahead of the competiton, Musiala has been used centrally, with Wirtz off the left.
Curacao have experienced with different formations, and it may be a test for the Germans to figure that out. With the talent in the four-time World Cup winners’ squad, they will likely shift to their back five formation they used against Scotland.
Germany predicted XI (4-2-3-1)
Neuer; Kimmich, Tah, Schlotterbeck, Brown; Nmecha, Pavlovic; Sane, Musiala, Wirtz; Woltemade
Curacao predicted XI (5-4-1)
Room; Floranus, Gaari, Obsipo, Bazoer, Fonville; Chong, Comenencia, L Bacuna, J Bacuna; Locadia
ReadLiverpool verdict
On paper, this should be one-sided, with the Liverpool man being the star of the show. However, so far, this World Cup has shown that the smaller nations aren’t here just to participate. Haiti displayed quality against Scotland, whilst Qatar drew with Switzerland. With the Germans’ record in the past few tournaments, it may not be as easy as expected.
If Nagelsmann’s troops are to find an early goal, and continue their domination, it could quickly become a very one-sided affair. Both sets of supporters are anticipating their World Cup kick-off.
