Historic achievement for the Caribbean island
Curacao has rewritten football history by becoming the smallest nation ever to qualify for the World Cup. The Caribbean island secured its place after a decisive draw against Jamaica, coached by Steve McClaren. The previous record belonged to Iceland, whose population and land area are significantly larger than Curacao’s 150,000 residents and 171 square miles.
Dramatic end to Jamaica’s hopes
Jamaica entered the match needing a victory to reach their first World Cup since 1998. They pushed hard, creating several key chances, including a stoppage-time penalty. However, the decision was overturned after a VAR review, crushing their hopes. The aftermath saw Steve McClaren resign as Jamaica’s head coach.
Record-setting coach and national progress
Curacao’s head coach Dick Advocaat, who missed the match for personal reasons, is set to become the oldest manager ever to appear at a World Cup at age 78. He surpasses Otto Rehhagel, who led Greece at 71 in 2010.
Curacao only became an autonomous country within the Kingdom of the Netherlands in 2010. A decade ago, they sat 150th in the FIFA rankings. Today, they have risen to 82nd, reflecting consistent development and investment.
Benefiting from the expanded World Cup format
The 2026 World Cup expansion to 48 teams played a crucial role in opening new opportunities. With hosts Canada, Mexico and the United States qualifying automatically, Curacao took advantage of the reshaped field. They join three other debutants: Cape Verde, Uzbekistan and Jordan.
Midfielder Juninho Bacuna described the achievement as something unimaginable only a few years ago. For him, participating in a World Cup would be a personal and national milestone.
Unbeaten qualifying campaign
Curacao’s path to qualification was impressive. Over 10 qualifying matches, they recorded seven wins and finished unbeaten. Their dream almost collapsed in the final seconds of their decisive match, but the VAR decision to overturn the penalty call preserved their place.
Other CONCACAF teams joining them
Alongside Curacao, Haiti and Panama also secured World Cup spots through CONCACAF qualification. Jamaica now face the Intercontinental play-offs in a last attempt to reach the tournament.
Haiti sealed their first World Cup appearance since 1974 after defeating Nicaragua 2–0, completing a historic night for Caribbean football.
