In a historic footballing achievement, Curaçao has secured qualification for the World Cup, shattering the record for the smallest nation by population to ever reach the global tournament.
The Caribbean island nation clinched their spot following a tense 0-0 draw against Jamaica on Tuesday. The result ensured Curaçao finished at the top of Group B with 12 points, completing an undefeated run through the qualifying stages.
This achievement marks the first time in history that the Curaçao national team has reached the World Cup finals.
Breaking Iceland’s Record
With this qualification, Curaçao claims a unique title in international football history. With a population of approximately 156,115, the island overtakes Iceland as the smallest nation to ever qualify for the tournament.
Iceland previously held the record after reaching the 2018 World Cup in Russia with a population of just over 350,000.
Advocaat’s Influence from Afar
The team achieved this milestone without their head coach, Dick Advocaat, present on the sidelines. The 78-year-old veteran manager was forced to return to the Netherlands last weekend to attend to family matters.
Despite his physical absence, Advocaat’s experience has been pivotal to the team’s rise. Before taking the helm in Curaçao, he managed the Netherlands national team during three separate tenures and led national squads for South Korea, Belgium, and Russia.
CONCACAF Success Stories
Curaçao is not the only team celebrating. They will be joined by fellow CONCACAF nations Panama and Haiti, who have also booked their tickets to the upcoming World Cup, marking a strong showing for the region.
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