Who is Livano Comenencia? Meet Curacao star who scored the country's first-ever goal at a FIFA World Cup

× Curacao defender Livano Comenencia created history for his nation at the 2026 FIFA World Cup on Sunday (June 14), scoring the tournament debutants' maiden goal in the competition against Germany in their Group E opener in Houston. Ad The four-time champions had led early through Felix Nmecha's sixth-minute opener. But against the run of play, Curacao - the smallest nation to play the World Cup - hit back, with Comenencia rifling in a low left-footed shot into the net from a crowded German penalty box in the 21st minute.

Comenencia, 22, plays his club football with FC Zurich in the Swiss Super League. As per Gazzetta, he was born in the Netherlands to parents from the Caribbean island of Curacao. Ad Trending The defender has also played with Juventus' U-23 team when Massimiliano Allegri was the head coach.

Comenencia had said at the time: “When I trained with Allegri’s first team, I barely touched the ball at first. The World Cup is a dream.” Having played with the Bianconeri's U-23 team, he moved to his current club in Switzerland last sumemr.

Comenencia's words have turned out to be prophetic, as he has not only realised his dream of playing in the World Cup, he also marked the occasion with a historic goal. Ad Going back to the game, Curacao's joy proved shortlived, as Germany hit back 17 minutes after Comenencia's equaliser, through Nico Schlotterbeck, before Kai Havertz scored from the spot in the fifth minute of first-half stoppage time. Germany head coach on Curacao ahead of 2026 FIFA World Cup opener Germany vs Curacao - FIFA World Cup 2026 - Group E - Source: Getty Germany head coach Julian Nagelsmann explained why he wouldn't underestimate Curacao despite the FIFA World Cup debutants' inexperience on the global stage.

Ad While Germany are ranked 10th in the latest FIFA rankings and have won the World Cup four times, Curacao are 72 places behind and have qualified for the marquee event in North America this summer for the first time. "Curacao players are all well-trained and can go into the tournament without pressure. That always makes an opponent dangerous," Nagelsmann said (as per DW) before the game.

"You never win a match just because you're favourites. We will win a match only if we produce a perfect performance."Nagelsmann's team haven't gone past the group stage in the two previous editions of the FIFA World Cup since their triumph in Brazil in 2014.

× Was this article helpful? Thank You for feedback Quick Links More from Sportskeeda Edited by Bhargav Curacao defender Livano Comenencia created history for his nation at the 2026 FIFA World Cup on Sunday (June 14), scoring the tournament debutants' maiden goal in the competition against Germany in their Group E opener in Houston. Ad The four-time champions had led early through Felix Nmecha's sixth-minute opener.

But against the run of play, Curacao - the smallest nation to play the World Cup - hit back, with Comenencia rifling in a low left-footed shot into the net from a crowded German penalty box in the 21st minute. Comenencia, 22, plays his club football with FC Zurich in the Swiss Super League. As per Gazzetta, he was born in the Netherlands to parents from the Caribbean island of Curacao.

Ad Trending The defender has also played with Juventus' U-23 team when Massimiliano Allegri was the head coach. Comenencia had said at the time: “When I trained with Allegri’s first team, I barely touched the ball at first. The World Cup is a dream.”

Having played with the Bianconeri's U-23 team, he moved to his current club in Switzerland last sumemr. Comenencia's words have turned out to be prophetic, as he has not only realised his dream of playing in the World Cup, he also marked the occasion with a historic goal. Ad Going back to the game, Curacao's joy proved shortlived, as Germany hit back 17 minutes after Comenencia's equaliser, through Nico Schlotterbeck, before Kai Havertz scored from the spot in the fifth minute of first-half stoppage time.

Germany head coach on Curacao ahead of 2026 FIFA World Cup opener Germany vs Curacao - FIFA World Cup 2026 - Group E - Source: Getty Germany head coach Julian Nagelsmann explained why he wouldn't underestimate Curacao despite the FIFA World Cup debutants' inexperience on the global stage. Ad While Germany are ranked 10th in the latest FIFA rankings and have won the World Cup four times, Curacao are 72 places behind and have qualified for the marquee event in North America this summer for the first time. "Curacao players are all well-trained and can go into the tournament without pressure.

That always makes an opponent dangerous," Nagelsmann said (as per DW) before the game. "You never win a match just because you're favourites. We will win a match only if we produce a perfect performance."

Nagelsmann's team haven't gone past the group stage in the two previous editions of the FIFA World Cup since their triumph in Brazil in 2014. × Was this article helpful? Thank You for feedback Quick Links More from Spor