World Cup arrives in Houston with Germany-Curaçao match

Houston got its first taste of the World Cup on Sunday, with chants by Germany fans echoing through the stadium and cheers and flag waving from Curaçao fans until the final whistle.

Why it matters: The Germany-Curaçao match marked Houston's debut as a World Cup host city and the first of seven matches that will bring fans from around the globe to the region.

The big picture: Germany defeated Curaçao 7-1 in front of a crowd of 68,021 at Houston Stadium. The four-time World Cup champion Germany overpowered Curaçao, the smallest nation in the tournament and one making its World Cup debut.

It was still a historic match for Curaçao, which scored its first World Cup goal against one of soccer's giants.

Zoom in: Germany fans outnumbered Curaçao fans, but the Curaçao crowd in blue was relentless, keeping their spirit throughout the match.

Meanwhile, Germany's supporters took over much of the stadium, dressed in white jerseys and decked out in black, red and gold scarves, wigs and other gear. Many traveled from Germany, hoping to see their team begin a run toward a fifth World Cup title.

What they're saying: "Football is so important. I feel like in the U.S., you can't really feel how it is for most other countries," Germany fan Florian Golbik, from Berlin, told Axios.

"I'm very, very proud and very happy about what I saw," Curaçao fan Jurandy Lucas said of seeing his country's team play. He was one of over 5,000 people supporting the island country at the stadium.

Worthy to note: Some fans said they spent an hour navigating security lines and finding their way into the stadium.

Threat level: City of Houston Office of Emergency Management reported at least two heat-related medical incidents at the stadium Sunday afternoon.

What's next: Portugal faces Congo at noon Wednesday at Houston Stadium.

Jay R. Jordan contributed to this report.