Ecuador goalkeeper Hernan Galindez and his Curacao opposite number Eloy Room were the busiest players in a stalemate that guarantees that Germany will win Group E.

"(I am) very proud because we are the smallest island, smallest country and we scored against Germany! We are very happy and very, very proud!" fan Otmar Cornelia told Reuters.

Germany won their first opening match at a World Cup since lifting the trophy in 2014 as they eased to a 7-1 win against debutants Curacao in their opening Group E match in Houston on Sunday.

When Curacao line up to face Germany in their FIFA World Cup 2026 opener on 14 June in Houston, it will be a special moment for all the players from the Caribbean side.

Advocaat, who at 78 will become the oldest manager in World Cup history, resigned in February for family matters.

The Caribbean nation set to play Germany, Ivory Coast and Ecuador in Group E.

Veteran Dutch coach Dick Advocaat, who led Curacao to their first World Cup qualification, has stepped down as manager months before the finals because of his daughter’s ill health.

The tiny island nation, a self-governing part of the Netherlands with a population of little more than 150,000, is the smallest country to qualify for football's premier showcase.

A nerve-shredding finale to the CONCACAF qualifying campaign saw Curacao -- with a population of just 156,000 -- squeeze into next year's final.