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Curaçao secures historic first World Cup berth after Jamaica draw
Curaçao, a small Caribbean island with a population of just over 150,000, has qualified for its first FIFA World Cup after a tense goalless draw against Jamaica in Kingston on Tuesday. The result eliminates Jamaica-managed by former England boss Steve McClaren-and crowns Curaçao as the smallest nation ever to reach the tournament, surpassing Iceland's 2018 milestone.
A record-breaking achievement
With a landmass smaller than the Isle of Man and fewer residents than Cambridge, Curaçao's qualification marks a historic underdog triumph. The expanded 2026 World Cup format, featuring 48 teams, opened the door for the Dutch Caribbean territory, which only gained autonomy within the Kingdom of the Netherlands in 2010.
Jamaica, needing a victory to secure their first World Cup appearance since 1998, saw their hopes dashed in stoppage time when a VAR review overturned a last-minute penalty awarded for an alleged foul by Curaçao substitute Jeremy Antonisse. The decision left the home crowd stunned and sealed Curaçao's unbeaten qualifying campaign-seven wins and three draws in 10 matches.
Advocaat sets age record
Curaçao's 78-year-old manager, Dick Advocaat, will become the oldest coach in World Cup history, eclipsing Otto Rehhagel's record (71, Greece, 2010). The Dutch tactician, who missed Tuesday's match for personal reasons, took charge in January 2024 after resolving a payment dispute between players and the Curaçaoan football association. His eighth national team role follows stints with the Netherlands, South Korea, and Russia, among others.
"Everyone knows Dick Advocaat is a big name," said midfielder Juninho Bacuna, a former Huddersfield and Rangers player. "His presence has been really important for us as a team and for the country. We saw growth in the way we worked and fought in games."
From 150th in rankings to World Cup debut
A decade ago, Curaçao languished at 150th in FIFA's world rankings. Now ranked 82nd, their squad blends Dutch-born players with Curaçaoan heritage-including Middlesbrough's Sontje Hansen, Sheffield United's Tahith Chong, and captain Leandro Bacuna-alongside homegrown talent. Juninho Bacuna, who switched allegiance from the Netherlands U21s in 2019, cited playing alongside his brother as a key motivation.
"At that time, my chances of playing for the Dutch national team were realistically not there," he told BBC Radio 5 Live. "Now, we're seeing more young players choose Curaçao, making the team even stronger."
Caribbean trio head to 2026
Curaçao joins Haiti and Panama as CONCACAF's World Cup qualifiers. Haiti, returning for the first time since 1974, secured their spot with a 2-0 win over Nicaragua. Jamaica will now enter the intercontinental playoffs.
The 2026 tournament, co-hosted by Canada, Mexico, and the U.S., will feature four debutants: Curaçao, Cape Verde, Uzbekistan, and Jordan. The draw is expected in late 2025.
"It's crazy and would be one of the biggest things to happen to Curaçao. Even a few years ago, you wouldn't think about it. To make that dream come true would be incredible."
Juninho Bacuna, Curaçao midfielder
