Curaçao to Cape Verde: Small nations make big World Cup history

Curaçao has qualified for the football World Cup for the first time in its history. The Caribbean island joins Panama and Haiti in securing a spot at the tournament, which is scheduled to take place from June 11 to July 19, 2026, across the United States, Canada, and Mexico.

Curaçao has made history by becoming the smallest nation to qualify for the World Cup after a 0-0 draw against Jamaica. The Caribbean island, with a population of 156,000, surpassed Iceland, which previously held the record with about 400,000 inhabitants. The appointment of coach Dick Advocaat, who delayed his start due to financial issues within the national federation, laid the groundwork for this historic qualifying campaign.

Fans from Curaçao to Haiti celebrated as several underdog teams ended long waits to qualify for the World Cup. This moment marks a significant achievement for these nations, allowing them to compete alongside global sports icons.

Steve McClaren has resigned as head coach of Jamaica's national football team following a goalless draw against Curaçao, which ended their hopes of automatic qualification for the World Cup. Jamaica will now participate in the intercontinental playoffs. Despite being favorites, Jamaica's performance fell short as they hit the woodwork three times in the second half.

Curaçao has made history by becoming the smallest nation ever to qualify for the World Cup after securing a crucial 0-0 draw against Jamaica in Kingston. With a population of just 156,000, this tiny Caribbean nation joins Haiti and Panama in qualifying for the tournament, which will take place in the United States, Canada, and Mexico next year. The draw was pivotal in the Concacaf qualifying campaign, allowing Curaçao to achieve this remarkable feat.