Live: Minnows Curaçao make their World Cup debut against four-time winners Germany

live World Cup live updates: Germany vs Curaçao, Netherlands vs Japan, Côte d'Ivoire vs Ecuador, Sweden vs Tunisia Four-time FIFA World Cup winners Germany gets its campaign underway against debutant minnows Curaçao in Houston. Later, Netherlands and Japan meet in a clash of continental heavyweights in Dallas before Côte d'Ivoire take on Ecuador in Philadelphia. Last up, Sweden and Tunisia take centre stage in the picture-perfect Estadio Monterrey. - Check out the full World Cup schedule here in Australian times - ABC Sport Daily podcast: Check out the latest episode Follow all the action in our live blog. Submit a comment or question Live updates New: Filters Choose what information you see below by using filters Mon 15 Jun 2026 at 2:27am Germany will not underestimate Curaçao, rates Neuer as vital - Reuters Germany will not underestimate a physical and technical Curaçao team in their World Cup opener, coach Julian Nagelsmann said. But Nagelsmann noted that Die Mannschaft's success in the tournament would rest heavily on 40-year-old goalkeeper Manuel Neuer. Nagelsmann said Neuer has found his rhythm in time for the four-time champions. "We trust him a lot," Nagelsmann told a news conference. "In order to have a good World Cup we need Manuel in top performance and we think he can do that. "He didn't have the rhythm but now he has found the rhythm." The Germans go into the tournament aiming to restore their dented international reputation after shock first-round exits in 2018 and 2022. Nagelsmann shrugged off questions of why Germany were not considered among the top favourites this time around, saying that was something that could be answered after the tournament. "When we take a look at the last two World Cups we didn’t perform in a good way so we won’t be mentioned as a favourite for this tournament," he said. "It is our job to do a perfect World Cup now and then we will be a favourite for the next World Cup." Key Event Mon 15 Jun 2026 at 2:23am Team news: Germany vs Curaçao Here's how the two teams line up today. Germany Manuel Neuer, the only member of Germany's 2014 World Cup-winning team in the squad, will make his first appearance two years after his international retirement and less than a month since his surprise recall to the team, taking the place of number one elect Oliver Baumann. Jamal Musiala also starts despite questionable form, while Deniz Undav, the Budesliga's second-top goal scorer, is on the bench. Curaçao The Blue Wave have named experienced Curaçao-born Tahith Chong in their starting line up. Mon 15 Jun 2026 at 2:09am Welcome to day four! Hello everyone and welcome to the ABC Sport live coverage of the FIFA World Cup 2026. My name is Simon Smale and it is my pleasure to be up with you all at this treacherous time on a Monday morning for the first of four games we have on our bingo card today. Here is our schedule: - 3:00am AEST (2:20am ACST, 1:00am AWST) — Group E: Germany vs Curaçao @ Houston Stadium - 6:00am AEST (5:30am ACST, 4:00am AWST) — Group F: Netherlands vs Japan @ Dallas Stadium - 9:00am AEST (8:30am ACST, 7:00am AWST) — Group E: Côte d'Ivoire vs Ecuador @ Philadelphia Stadium - 12:00pm AEST (11:30am ACST, 10:00am AWST) — Group F: Sweden vs Tunisia @ Monterrey Stadium Remember, if you want the full schedule, check here.