Curacao Becomes the Smallest Nation Ever to Qualify for a World Cup

Curacao has reached the 2026 World Cup, becoming the smallest country by population ever to qualify for the tournament. The Caribbean island has about 155,000 residents, breaking Iceland’s 2018 record of 331,000. It also becomes the smallest nation by area to make the finals, with just 444 square kilometers, about 50 times smaller than Israel, after overtaking Cape Verde, which is 4,033 square kilometers.

Curacao is an autonomous part of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, and its citizens hold Dutch passports and enjoy the same rights as European Union citizens. A decade ago, the team was ranked 150th by FIFA, but it has climbed to 82nd. Much of that progress came under veteran Dutch coach Dick Advocaat, who took charge in January 2024 and has now had eight international jobs, including with the Netherlands, the United Arab Emirates, South Korea, Belgium, Russia, Serbia and Iraq.

If Advocaat had stayed for the finals, he would have become the oldest coach ever at a World Cup. At 78, he traveled with the team to Kingston for the decisive qualifier in Jamaica, but left soon after landing for what the federation described as “family reasons.” He said, “This is a very difficult decision for me to leave the boys here. I had to make it with a heavy heart, but family is more important than football. I will remain in close contact with the staff, and I have full faith in the players.”

He was replaced by Dean Gora, Kenji Gora’s father and also Curacao’s women’s team coach. Dean Gora has coached the men’s side before, and players once protested to keep him in the role. Only one player in the current squad was born on the island, Manchester United academy product Tahith Chong. The rest, including the coach, were born in the Netherlands and qualify through family ties.

Goalkeeping remains a concern. Eloy Room was without a club for a year but still featured in qualifying and may start at the tournament. His last club appearance was for Cercle Brugge in February, ten months ago. Backup option Tyrique Bodak has not yet made a senior appearance, while Trevor Doornbusch, who plays for second-tier Dutch side Venlo, has made only one appearance this season. Midfielder Juninho Bacuna said he chose Curacao partly to play alongside his brother Leandro, the captain, and called the achievement “crazy,” “amazing” and “unbelievable.”