Curaçao to Compete in 2026 World Cup
KINGSTON, Jamaica — The Caribbean island nation of Curaçao is set to make history as the smallest nation by population to qualify for the 2026 World Cup.
With a population of approximately 156,000, Curaçao previously made headlines when it qualified for the 2018 World Cup in Russia, surpassing Iceland’s record—previously the smallest nation to participate, with a population of just over 350,000.
The Curaçao team, heavily composed of players with roots in the Netherlands, managed to secure a 0-0 draw in Jamaica on Tuesday, finishing at the top of their group which also included Trinidad and Tobago and last-place Bermuda.
Curaçao has recently welcomed new talent from abroad, having brought in five players since August. This change was made possible after FIFA granted permission for players who had previously represented the Netherlands at youth levels to join the national team.
Notable players include defender Joshua Brennett, who participated in World Cup qualifying for the Netherlands in 2016. Also on the roster is former Manchester United youth player Tahith Chong, one of the few team members actually born in Curaçao, a territory that used to be part of the Netherlands Antilles until its autonomy about 15 years ago.
Leading the team is Dutch coach Dick Advocaat, at 78 years old. He brings significant experience, having previously guided the Netherlands to the quarterfinals of the 1994 World Cup and coached South Korea in Germany in 2006.
This qualification marks a major achievement for a team often considered under the radar. Players hail from various clubs, including those in smaller leagues like Rotherham in England’s third division and Bandirmaspor in Turkey’s second division.
Interestingly, Advocaat was unable to be present for the Jamaican match due to family matters, yet his team still managed to pull off a remarkable result. They struck the goalpost three times in the second half, and a potential game-winning penalty for Jamaica was overturned after a video review.
Curaçao will join fellow Caribbean nations Panama and Haiti, both of which secured their spots on the same day. Panama triumphed over El Salvador with a 3-0 victory, marking their second World Cup appearance; their first was in 2018.
Haiti’s only previous World Cup participation was in 1974 against West Germany.
Tuesday’s results from the Caribbean and Central American qualifiers also established the six teams that will participate in the intercontinental playoffs in Mexico in March, including Jamaica, Suriname, and teams from Asia, Africa, South America, and Oceania.
