Felix Nmecha had made it 1-0 in the sixth minute. By the end of the match, Germany was leading 7-1 and he still had energy, but not to celebrate: he crossed the grass of Houston Stadium to head straight toward the Curaçao players.
Alongside Jonathan Tah, Nmecha hugged them one by one and invited them to form a circle at midfield. Six players from both teams, standing on the grass, closed their eyes and prayed together on June 14, 2026, with the score still on the board.
The image went viral within hours. Nmecha later explained what happened: “In the game we are opponents, but afterward we are all Christian brothers. We said a short prayer because we believe that Jesus is glorified through the game”.
For Curaçao, it was their first match in the history of a World Cup. They lost by a six-goal margin. But they left the field with that moment, which for many was worth more than any result.