Curacao Qualifies for World Cup, Making History
The small Caribbean island of Curacao has made history by becoming the smallest nation ever to qualify for the World Cup following a draw against Jamaica, managed by Steve McClaren.
Previously, Iceland held the record after qualifying for the 2018 finals; however, Curacao's population is significantly smaller, with just over 150,000 residents—comparable to cities like Cambridge or Huddersfield—and a land area of 171 square miles, which is even less than the Isle of Man.
McClaren resigned from his position as Jamaica's coach after his team, which needed a victory in Kingston to qualify for their first World Cup since 1998, was held to a goalless draw. This match included a controversial injury-time penalty that was overturned by VAR.
Curacao's head coach, Dick Advocaat, who was absent from the match for personal reasons, will become the oldest coach to participate in a World Cup at the age of 78, surpassing Otto Rehhagel's record when he led Greece at 71 in 2010.
Curacao, located 37 miles off the coast of Venezuela, became a country within the Kingdom of the Netherlands in 2010 after the dissolution of the Netherlands Antilles. A decade ago, they were ranked 150th in FIFA's world rankings; they now stand at 82nd.
The expanded format of the 2026 World Cup, which will feature 48 teams instead of 32, has significantly improved Curacao's chances of qualifying. They will join debutants Cape Verde, Uzbekistan, and Jordan in the upcoming tournament.
Midfielder Juninho Bacuna, a former player for Huddersfield, Rangers, and Birmingham, expressed his excitement, stating, "It's crazy and would be one of the biggest things that will happen to Curacao. It’s incredible and amazing. Even a few years ago, you wouldn’t even think about it. To be personally part of it and to make that dream come true would be incredible."
Curacao completed their qualifying campaign unbeaten, winning seven out of ten matches. Their historic achievement was nearly marred during the match's injury time when a penalty was awarded against them. However, after reviewing the incident on the touchline screen, the referee reversed his decision, much to the crowd's disbelief.
Alongside Curacao, Haiti and Panama will also represent the CONCACAF region at the World Cup, while Jamaica will have to compete in the Intercontinental playoffs. Haiti secured their place in the tournament for the first time since 1974 by defeating Nicaragua 2-0.
Advocaat Makes World Cup History
Since January 2024, Dick Advocaat, at 78 years old, has taken charge of his eighth national team, having previously managed the Netherlands, the United Arab Emirates, South Korea, Belgium, Russia, Serbia, and Iraq. He led the Netherlands to the quarter-finals of the 1994 World Cup, while his South Korean squad exited in the group stage in 2006.
Advocaat took the helm of Curacao following a resolution to a payment dispute between the players and the country’s football association, setting his sights on World Cup qualification.
Bacuna remarked, "Everyone knows Dick Advocaat is a big name; he is a big coach, and everyone respects him for his decisions and work ethic. His presence is really important for us as a team and for the country, and his impact has been significant. We started working with him during the Nations League qualifiers and saw considerable growth in the team."
Dutch Talent and British-Born Players
Most players in the Curacao squad were born in the Netherlands but have familial ties that allow them to represent Advocaat's team. The squad includes Joshua Brenet (Livingston), Ar'jany Martha (Rotherham), Sontje Hansen (Middlesbrough), and Tahith Chong (Sheffield United), who was born in Curacao and previously played in the Premier League with Manchester United.
For Bacuna, representing Curacao also provided the opportunity to play alongside his older brother Leandro, the national team's captain, which was a significant motivation after he had played for the Netherlands at the under-21 level. "I made a choice early to play for Curacao. One reason was to share the field with my brother, allowing our family to see us play together. The other reason was that my chances of playing for the Dutch national team seemed slim at the time," Bacuna explained.
Bacuna believes that Curacao's recent footballing progress will encourage more Dutch-born players to join the team, known as The Blue Family. "We’re seeing more young players who could play for Holland choosing to represent Curacao, which makes the team even stronger," he added.