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Germany opened its 2026 World Cup campaign against Curaçao in Houston with the familiar pressure that follows a four-time champion. For Julian Nagelsmann, the match was the first real test of a rebuilt side that wants more than respect; it wants a fifth world title.

Nagelsmann brought a 26-man squad built around Manuel Neuer, Joshua Kimmich, Antonio Rüdiger, Jamal Musiala, Florian Wirtz and Kai Havertz. Rudi Völler said the group should be difficult to beat, while Nagelsmann set the ceiling himself: "Every team wants to win the World Cup, and so do we." That blend of pedigree and ambition has defined Germany’s buildup, with the coaching staff leaning on experience without hiding the expectation that this team must deliver.

The route through Group E leaves little margin for drift. After Curaçao in Houston, Germany faced Côte d’Ivoire in Toronto on 20 June and Ecuador in New York/New Jersey on 25 June, three matches that quickly measured whether the Mannschaft’s form matched its reputation. Germany had already reached the tournament on 17 November 2025, after recovering from an early setback in qualifying, and the program leading into the World Cup was shaped by three years of trust, unity and open communication.

The weight of the badge remains obvious. Germany won the World Cup in 1954, 1974, 1990 and 2014, a haul that keeps it among FIFA’s most decorated teams and leaves little patience for a flat campaign. Its final dress rehearsal offered encouragement: a 2-1 victory over the United States in Chicago gave Nagelsmann a sharper edge and a stronger case that this group can turn reputation into results. The answer in Houston was not just about the first three points; it was about whether Germany still looks like a team built for another run at the trophy.