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.

Switzerland confirmed their place at the 2026 World Cup after maintaining an unbeaten record in qualifying, managing a hard-fought 1-1 draw in Pristina against Kosovo.

The opening half lacked intensity, with few clear-cut chances for either side. The deadlock was broken shortly after the interval when Ruben Vargas exploited space behind the Kosovo defense.

Djibril Sow delivered a precise through ball that Vargas calmly converted past goalkeeper Arijanet Muric in the 47th minute. The Swiss capitalized on this moment to take the lead in a crucial encounter for automatic qualification.

Kosovo fight back late in the game

Kosovo responded strongly in the latter stages, refusing to settle for a draw at home. Florent Muslija produced a brilliant strike, curling the ball into the top right corner on 74 minutes to level the score.

The hosts increased the pressure as the match entered its final phase. Baton Zabergja and Vedat Muriqi both had opportunities to snatch a winner, but each attempt was denied by Switzerland’s goalkeeper, Gregor Kobel.

Despite Kosovo’s late surge, Switzerland’s defensive resilience ensured the visitors retained a point, enough to secure their top position in Group B.

Implications for the group and next steps

With the draw, Switzerland finished at the summit of Group B, accumulating 14 points across their qualifying campaign. Their unbeaten run guaranteed automatic entry into next year’s tournament.

Kosovo, narrowly missing out on direct qualification, ended the group with 11 points, earning second place. This result sets them up for the European play-offs scheduled in March, where they will have another opportunity to reach their first World Cup.

Switzerland’s consistent performances throughout the qualifiers underscore their status as one of the most formidable sides in the group, while Kosovo can take pride in a competitive campaign that brings them close to a historic milestone.

President Donald Trump has announced that US embassies will give priority to visa applicants holding tickets for the 2026 World Cup. The new FIFA Prioritized Appointment Scheduling System (Pass) is designed to help ticket holders with long waits secure interviews faster.

The system allows travelers with tickets to request a faster appointment through FIFA. However, Secretary of State Marco Rubio emphasized that having a ticket does not automatically guarantee a visa. All applicants will undergo the usual vetting procedures.

Rubio explained that ticket holders could receive an embassy or consulate interview within six to eight weeks of applying, significantly reducing the current waiting times in some countries.

Implications for international fans

The 2026 World Cup will be hosted across the United States, Mexico, and Canada, with the majority of matches in the US. FIFA President Gianni Infantino said the tournament could attract up to 10 million visitors. He highlighted that the Pass system will help legitimate football fans attend the World Cup under improved conditions, starting with easier access to visas.

Currently, visa appointment wait times vary widely. In Colombia, applicants face roughly an 11-month wait, while in Mexico City it is about nine and a half months. Residents of Toronto who are not Canadian citizens may wait as long as 14 months for a US visa interview. Without a prioritization system, fans in some countries could receive visas long after the tournament concludes.

The initiative has received praise from the US Travel Association. CEO Geoff Freeman described the process as a practical solution that maintains security while reducing wait times and improving capacity to host millions of visitors.

Visa restrictions and exemptions

The new rules do not override existing travel bans. Earlier this year, Trump issued an order restricting nationals from 12 countries from entering the US, citing security concerns. Iran, which has qualified for the World Cup, is among these countries.

While the executive order exempts athletes and coaching staff for events like the World Cup and the 2028 Olympics, fans from banned countries may still face restrictions.

Not all visitors to the US will need a visa. Citizens of countries in the US visa waiver program, including much of Europe, Japan, and Australia, can enter without a visa for up to 90 days.

At previous World Cups in Russia and Qatar, tickets came with a fan ID that allowed entry to the host country. The FIFA Pass system represents a similar effort to facilitate travel for football fans while preserving standard security checks.

Former Scotland forwards Billy Dodds and James McFadden reflected on Saturday’s match against Greece and looked ahead to the decisive qualifier against Denmark at Hampden Park.

Scotland needed at least a point in Piraeus to stay in contention for automatic World Cup qualification but ended up losing 3-2. Despite the setback, Belarus’ unexpected 2-2 draw with Denmark means Scotland can still top Group C with a victory over the Danes.

Dodds questioned whether Scotland’s cautious approach early in Greece was a result of calculating the points needed. “Perhaps the mindset was cautious because we thought a draw could suffice,” he suggested. By the second half, he noted, the team showed more urgency and energy, nearly turning the result around.

McFadden attributed the defeat to weak defending and nerves stemming from previous encounters with Greece. He observed poor pressing, large gaps between defense, midfield, and attack, and a lack of forward momentum from key players in the first half.

Tactical considerations and possible lineup tweaks

Both Dodds and McFadden anticipated that Scotland manager Steve Clarke might retain the same overall formation against Denmark but could make minor personnel adjustments. The striker and possibly one central defender are under consideration for change. Dodds mentioned Scott McKenna as a potential replacement for Grant Hanley to add pace.

McFadden agreed that Hanley appeared shaky against Greece and could be replaced but expects Che Adams to remain up front. Billy Gilmour’s injury and absence from training may influence Clarke’s approach, potentially prompting a shift in formation rather than relying on the 4-4-2 used against Denmark in Copenhagen. Clarke could revert to a back three or a defensive five depending on circumstances.

Denmark’s recent performance was criticized by their coach following a draw with Belarus, and a stomach bug in their squad could affect morale. Dodds believes such issues might create a negative mindset for the visitors, which Scotland can exploit.

Hampden support and mindset boost

Both former forwards emphasized the unique atmosphere Hampden can generate during critical qualifiers. McFadden recalled the deafening noise during matches against the Netherlands in 2003 and Italy in 2007, noting the electric anticipation surrounding a potential World Cup berth.

Dodds shared memories from the 1999 playoff against England, recalling the intensity of the national anthems and the unforgettable pressure moments. He advised the current squad to focus on contributing fully to the match and embracing the occasion rather than feeling overshadowed.

McFadden stressed that Denmark, while a strong team, is not among the world’s elite. He acknowledged Scotland’s recent inconsistent displays but highlighted the psychological difference: in Greece, the team focused on a draw, whereas against Denmark, a clear opportunity exists to secure the top spot.

Dodds echoed this, emphasizing that the reward at the end—the chance to qualify directly for the World Cup—will provide motivation, belief, and determination. Both ex-players suggested that with Hampden behind them and a positive mindset, Scotland could finally deliver the big performance the campaign has yet to produce.