Curaçao has made history by becoming the smallest country ever to qualify for a World Cup after securing a draw against Jamaica in Kingston. The Caribbean island, with a population of just over 150,000 and covering only 171 square miles, surpasses Iceland’s previous record from the 2018 tournament.
Jamaica, coached by former England manager Steve McClaren, needed a victory to qualify for their first World Cup since 1998 but were held to a goalless draw. A late VAR review also overturned a penalty that could have changed the outcome. Following the match, McClaren resigned as Jamaica’s head coach.
Curacao’s coach, Dick Advocaat, who missed the game for personal reasons, will make history as the oldest coach at a World Cup at 78, surpassing Otto Rehhagel’s record with Greece in 2010.
Since becoming a constituent country within the Kingdom of the Netherlands in 2010, Curaçao has made remarkable progress, rising from 150th to 82nd in FIFA rankings over the past decade.
The expanded 2026 World Cup format, increasing participants to 48 nations, combined with automatic qualification for hosts Canada, Mexico, and the United States, contributed to Curacao’s opportunity. They join other debutants Cape Verde, Uzbekistan, and Jordan for the upcoming tournament.
Unbeaten qualifying campaign and key moments
Curacao’s qualifying run was impressive, finishing the 10-game campaign unbeaten with seven victories. Midfielder Juninho Bacuna described the achievement as extraordinary for both him and the nation, highlighting the pride in representing his home country on the world stage.
Their qualification was nearly jeopardized in the final minutes of the Jamaica match when a potential penalty was awarded for a Curaçao foul. The decision was swiftly reversed after a VAR check, leaving the Jamaican crowd frustrated and confirming Curaçao’s place at the World Cup.
Joining Curacao from the CONCACAF region will be Haiti and Panama, while Jamaica will now enter the intercontinental play-offs. Haiti secured their first World Cup appearance since 1974 with a 2-0 victory over Nicaragua.
Advocaat’s impact and squad composition
Dick Advocaat, a Dutch coach with experience at eight national teams, including the Netherlands, South Korea, and Russia, only took charge of Curaçao after resolving a dispute between players and the national association. His focus was immediately on qualifying for the 2026 tournament.
Bacuna praised Advocaat’s influence, noting that the coach’s experience and leadership have been pivotal in improving the team’s performance and mentality throughout the Nations League and World Cup qualifying.
Most of Curaçao’s squad were born in the Netherlands but qualified through family heritage. Players include Joshua Brenet (Livingston), Ar’jany Martha (Rotherham), Sontje Hansen (Middlesbrough), and Tahith Chong (Sheffield United), with Chong being the only squad member born on the island itself.
For Bacuna, playing for Curacao offered a chance to compete alongside his older brother Leandro, the team captain, which was a significant motivation. He explained that he chose to represent Curaçao at 21 after recognizing limited opportunities to play for the Netherlands senior team.
Bacuna also believes Curacao’s recent success will encourage more young Dutch-born players to join the national squad, strengthening the team and continuing its upward trajectory in international football.