The Caribbean island of Curacao has etched its name in football history by becoming the smallest nation ever to qualify for the World Cup, following a goalless draw against Jamaica.
Iceland previously held the record when they reached the 2018 World Cup, but with a population of just over 150,000—roughly the size of Cambridge or Huddersfield—and an area of 171 square miles, Curacao has now surpassed them.
Jamaica, managed by former England coach Steve McClaren, needed a win to secure their first World Cup appearance since 1998. The match ended in disappointment for the Reggae Boyz, particularly after a late injury-time penalty was overturned by VAR. McClaren subsequently resigned.
Curacao’s team will be led by Dick Advocaat, who, at 78, will become the oldest coach to participate in a World Cup, surpassing Otto Rehhagel, who managed Greece at age 71 in 2010.
The island, located 37 miles off Venezuela’s coast, became an autonomous country within the Kingdom of the Netherlands in 2010 after the dissolution of the Netherlands Antilles. In just over a decade, Curacao has risen from 150th in FIFA rankings to 82nd.
The 2026 World Cup’s expanded 48-team format, combined with automatic qualification for hosts Canada, Mexico, and the United States, helped pave the way for Curacao to make their debut. They join fellow debutants Cape Verde, Uzbekistan, and Jordan.
Midfielder Juninho Bacuna, who has played for Huddersfield, Rangers, and Birmingham, expressed his excitement, calling it “one of the biggest things that will happen to Curacao” and “a dream come true.”
Curacao finished their qualifying campaign unbeaten, winning seven of ten matches. Their final game featured a tense moment in stoppage time when a penalty was initially awarded against them but reversed after a VAR check.
From CONCACAF qualifying, Curacao will be joined at the 2026 World Cup by Haiti—who return for the first time since 1974 after beating Nicaragua 2-0—and Panama. Jamaica will now face the intercontinental play-offs for another chance to qualify.
