The tiny Caribbean island of Curaçao (population just 156,115) has done the impossible: they are going to the World Cup.
A gritty 0-0 draw against Jamaica on Tuesday was enough to seal top spot in Group B with an unbeaten 12 points, sending the entire nation of 156,000 into wild celebrations.
New Record Holders
Curaçao has officially become the smallest country by population ever to reach football’s biggest stage, smashing the record previously held by Iceland (≈350,000) from 2018.
Coach Watches from 7,000 km Away
Legendary Dutch manager Dick Advocaat, 78, wasn’t even on the bench – he had flown home to the Netherlands for urgent family reasons days earlier.
Yet the team he built kept marching, proving his tactics and experience carried the team across the finish line from afar.
CONCACAF Party
Curaçao will travel to the World Cup alongside Panama and Haiti, giving the Caribbean and Central America three teams at the finals for the first time.
One island. 156,000 people. One giant leap for world football.
Welcome to the World Cup, Curaçao!
