Inside the rising cost of hosting the 2026 FIFA World Cup
A previous version of this video included incorrect CAD and MXN amounts. Let’s take a look at the 2026 FIFA World Cup’s costs, revenues, and why the economic benefits for host cities are limited.
Editor’s note: Follow Germany vs Curacao live and check the score and highlights
Curaçao surprised Germany on Sunday by scoring an equalizer in the first half of their 2026 World Cup opener after conceding an early goal in the first half.
Curaçao made history with their first goal in the inaugural World Cup, as Libano Conencia scored in the 21st minute to put Germany in the lead.
Curaçao entered the game in Houston as a huge underdog, as the smallest country to ever play in a World Cup in terms of both size and population (approximately 160,000 people).
And the game seemed to be going according to scenario when Felix Nmeka’s goal after just six minutes gave Germany the lead.
However, Curacao’s loose ball bounced off to Conencia near the top of the box, shocking the Germans. The 22-year-old saw his shot deflected on its way past Manuel Neuer, who had been completely untested up to that point.
However, Germany regained the lead 17 minutes later when Nico Schlotterbeck headed home from close range from a corner kick. Kai Havertz then scored a penalty just before half-time to make it 3-1.
Things got even worse for the Blue Wave from there, with Germany scoring four more goals in the second half from Jamal Musiala, Nathaniel Braun, Deniz Unduff and Havertz, making the final score 7-1.
First World Cup for Curacao
Curaçao made history by qualifying for the World Cup by finishing first in a group that included Jamaica, Trinidad and Tobago and Bermuda, earning them a spot from Concacaf.
Their roster is made up of players who have been a good fit for Curacao for a long time. Captain Leandro Bacuna, goalkeeper Eloy Room and forward Kenji Gore are among the players who have participated in multiple qualification cycles, while centre-back Armando Obispo and attacker Tahith Chong are among the players who suited up for the first time to help qualify in 2025. The team is led by Dick Advocaat, who at 78 years old is the oldest manager in World Cup history.
world cup standings
Check out USA TODAY Sports’ live group standings, stats and latest standings here.
world cup group
- Group A: Mexico, South Africa, South Korea, Czech Republic
- Group B: Canada, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Qatar, Switzerland
- Group C: Brazil, Morocco, Haiti, Scotland
- Group D: USA, Paraguay, Australia, Türkiye
- Group E: Germany, Curacao, Ivory Coast, Ecuador
- Group F: Netherlands, Japan, Sweden, Tunisia
- Group G: Belgium, Egypt, Iran, New Zealand
- Group H: Spain, Cape Verde, Saudi Arabia, Uruguay
- Group I: France, Senegal, Iraq, Norway
- Group J: Argentina, Algeria, Austria, Jordan
- Group K: Portugal, Democratic Republic of Congo, Uzbekistan, Colombia
- Group L: England, Croatia, Ghana, Panama
Main dates of the World Cup
- Group stage: June 11th to June 27th
- round 32: June 28th to July 3rd
- round 16: July 4th to July 7th
- quarterfinals: July 9th to 11th
- Semi-final: July 14th-15th
- 3rd place match: July 18th (Miami Gardens, Florida)
- final: July 19th (East Rutherford, New Jersey)
