The “Blue Wave” (the enviable nickname given to Curaçao’s national soccer team) will soon be sweeping North America.
The small Caribbean island, with a population of just over 150,000 people and an area of just 443 square kilometers (171 square miles), will become the smallest nation ever to compete in a FIFA World Cup when the 2026 tournament begins on June 11.
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Curaçao, an autonomous entity within the Kingdom of the Netherlands, wrote a fairy tale script to secure eligibility. The island nation is now looking to give its people yet another reason to celebrate as their team plays in soccer’s most prestigious global tournament, as one of four teams to take part in the tournament for the first time.
Here’s everything you need to know about Curaçao, featured in Al Jazeera’s World Cup Minnow Series.
Where is Curacao?
It is located 60 km (37 miles) off the coast of Venezuela.
Willemstad, in the south of the island, is the capital.
How did Curacao qualify for the World Cup?
Curacao survived two tough qualifying rounds to earn their first World Cup final ticket.
They played 10 games, won 7, and finished the season undefeated.
Curacao’s journey began with the second round of CONCACAF qualifying. They defeated Barbados, Aruba, St. Lucia and Haiti and remained undefeated with 15 goals.
In the third and final qualifying round, they were placed in Group B alongside powerhouses Jamaica, Trinidad and Tobago, and Bermuda.
Curacao drew 0-0 with Trinidad and Tobago in their first match, then defeated Bermuda 3-2 at home. Playing at home, they defeated Jamaica 2-0, sending a clear warning to their opponents that qualifying for the World Cup was their clear goal.
Their next match was a 1-1 draw with Trinidad and Tobago, before defeating Bermuda 7-0.
In the crucial final game against Jamaica last November, despite adversity, goalkeeper Eloy Room and a resolute Curaçao defense kept the Reggae Boyz at bay and held out for a scoreless draw. But the impasse was not without drama. Jamaica were awarded a penalty in stoppage time, but the decision was overturned by VAR.
As a result of the draw, Curacao secured top spot in Group B, capping off the most remarkable chapter in their World Cup journey.
“The impossible has become possible,” winger Kenji Gore told the Guardian. “It’s literally impossible on such a small island, a small island of 150,000 people, and now to be at the biggest pinnacle of football is incredible.”
Curaçao is the smallest country in history to qualify for the World Cup, which will be expanded to 48 teams for the first time. Previously, the smallest country to qualify for the tournament was Iceland in 2018, with a population of about 350,000.
Has Curacao ever played in a major tournament?
In international competitions, it is the successor state to the Netherlands Antilles, and has only started competing as the island of Curaçao since 2010, making its first appearance in the FIFA World Cup qualifiers under its new name before the 2014 Brazil tournament.
Although many of the players are based in the Netherlands, Curaçao, which boasts a Southern Caribbean island heritage, quickly became a rising football nation in the CONCACAF region, scoring its first victory in 2015 in a World Cup two-legged qualifier against Montserrat.
Two years later, the team qualified for the CONCACAF Gold Cup for the first time, but were eliminated in the group stage and lost in all their matches. However, in 2019, they bounced back admirably and reached the quarterfinals, only to lose to eventual runner-up USA.
Curacao came close to qualifying for the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, but were eliminated by Panama in the penultimate round of qualifying.
What is Curaçao’s FIFA ranking?
Ten years ago, Curacao was ranked 150th in the FIFA world rankings. He has now climbed to 82nd place.
Who will Curacao play at the World Cup?
Curacao is in Group E, along with former champions Germany, Ecuador, and African powerhouse Ivory Coast. They plan to play all group games in the United States.
2026 World Cup matches in Curacao:
June 14: Germany vs. Curacao – Houston Stadium June 20: Ecuador vs. Curacao – Kansas City Stadium June 25: Curacao vs. Ivory Coast – Philadelphia Stadium
Curacao head coach merry-go-round
Veteran Dutch manager Dick Advocaat has led Curaçao to their first World Cup, calling it the “craziest thing” he has accomplished in his nearly 40-year managerial career.
However, four months before the tournament, he resigned from his position due to his daughter’s poor health.
Dutchman Fred Rutten, who previously managed Feyenoord, PSV Eindhoven and Schalke 04, was named as his successor and was expected to lead the team at the World Cup.
However, there was a further development. On May 11, exactly one month before the tournament, Rutten resigned to protect the team’s professional environment, following calls from players and sponsors for Advocaat to return.
The next day, it was quickly announced that the 78-year-old would be returning to the head coaching job after his daughter’s condition improved, ESPN reported. Advocaat’s reappointment makes him the oldest manager in World Cup history.
Who are the key players in Curacao?
Forward Gervain Castanir was Curaçao’s top scorer during the qualification period with five goals in six games, including a hat-trick against Saint Lucia.
Striker Langelo Djanga, Curacao’s all-time leading scorer with 21 goals, scored a hat-trick against Barbados, while Juninho Bacuna and Gore scored a total of three goals in this phase.
Libano Conencia, a 22-year-old right-back, and Tahith Chong, a 26-year-old midfielder from Manchester United’s academy, are promising players for the Curacao team.
What is the Dutch connection in the Curaçao team?
The majority of the team is Dutch-born, but there are family connections that qualify them to play in Curaçao.
Many players represented the Netherlands in their age groups, including Juninho, a central midfielder who played for the Dutch U-18, U-20 and U-21 teams. His older brother Leandro also played for the Dutch youth team before playing for Curaçao at senior level.
Juninho, who switched allegiance from the Netherlands to Curaçao in 2019, said it was a “big decision”.
“I was only 21 at the time and many years passed before I got my chance with the Dutch national team,” he told the BBC. “But I chose early on to play for Curacao. One of the reasons was that I could play on the same team as my brother and my family could see us play together.”
“There are more players who are still young and can play in the Netherlands, and they will come to play in Curaçao and make the team even stronger,” he added.
Chong, who plays for second-tier Sheffield United, is the only island-born member of the team.
How is Curaçao preparing for the World Cup?
Curaçao played two international friendlies in March, losing 2-0 to China in Sydney and then losing 5-1 to Australia in Melbourne. They are scheduled to play a friendly against Scotland in Glasgow in May before heading to the World Cup.
Australia and Scotland will also be competing in North America this summer.
What can you expect from Curaçao?
Curaçao have a difficult task ahead of them at the World Cup, starting with their first match against four-time champions Germany. Despite their shocking group stage exit in 2022, the Germans remain top of their group and favorites to at least reach the quarter-finals.
But Curaçao fans can expect a tenacious fight from their team, and perhaps even some goals. The Caribbean team scored an astonishing 28 goals in 10 games during World Cup qualifying, conceding just five goals.
“In general, at the World Championships or the European Championships, there are always surprises,” Rutten told reporters in March. “And why isn’t this year for us?
“We have a team of warriors and they never give up.”
Al Jazeera’s dedicated page for the 2026 FIFA World Cup allows you to track the progress of the match with all the latest news, match developments and live text commentary, and stay up to date with group standings, real-time results and schedule.
