Overview
- Germany, which beat Curaçao 7–1 on Sunday, conceded an early equaliser from Livano Comenencia before scoring six unanswered goals to seal the result.
- Seven goals were shared by multiple players—Felix Nmecha, Nico Schlotterbeck, Kai Havertz (2), Jamal Musiala, Nathaniel Brown and Deniz Undav—highlighting the team’s attacking depth.
- ZDF and other outlets noted defensive gaps in the first half, with coach Julian Nagelsmann and players warning that those lapses must be fixed ahead of tougher opponents.
- Ivory Coast beat Ecuador 1–0 thanks to a late Amad Diallo goal, a result that raises the level of challenge Germany will face in Group E when it plays Ivory Coast on June 20 and Ecuador on June 25.
- Off-field moments shaped the opening day too, from praise for the new hydration breaks to Tom Kaulitz’s MagentaTV commentary debut and Japan fans—helped by NFL quarterback Jameis Winston—cleaning a stadium after their match.