Curaçao Makes History — The Smallest Nation Ever to Reach the World Cup
Sport
Curaçao’s national football team has qualified for the World Cup for the first time, becoming the smallest country by population ever to reach the tournament, surpassing Iceland’s record.
The Curaçao national team has achieved a historic milestone, earning its first-ever World Cup berth and setting a new record as the smallest nation — with only 156,000 residents — to qualify for the world’s premier football tournament.
A key figure behind this breakthrough was veteran Dutch coach Dick Advocaat, who took charge of the team in January 2024 and guided it through the qualifying campaign.
The decisive moment came in the sixth round of the CONCACAF qualifiers for the 2026 World Cup, in a match against Jamaica. The game, held overnight on November 18–19 at Independence Park in Kingston, ended in a 0–0 draw — a result that secured Curaçao direct qualification for the 2026 World Cup.
For the island nation, this achievement marks a major sporting triumph and is already being hailed as one of the most significant moments in Curaçao’s football history.
A key figure behind this breakthrough was veteran Dutch coach Dick Advocaat, who took charge of the team in January 2024 and guided it through the qualifying campaign.
The decisive moment came in the sixth round of the CONCACAF qualifiers for the 2026 World Cup, in a match against Jamaica. The game, held overnight on November 18–19 at Independence Park in Kingston, ended in a 0–0 draw — a result that secured Curaçao direct qualification for the 2026 World Cup.
For the island nation, this achievement marks a major sporting triumph and is already being hailed as one of the most significant moments in Curaçao’s football history.
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