Curaçao become the smallest nation ever to qualify for a World Cup

The tiny Caribbean island of Curaçao has become the smallest nation ever to qualify for the World Cup after holding Steve McClaren’s Jamaica to a draw.

Iceland had previously held the record after reaching the 2018 finals, but Curaçao — with a population just over 150,000 (similar to Cambridge or Huddersfield) and a land area of only 171 square miles, smaller than the Isle of Man — is far smaller.

McClaren resigned after Jamaica, needing a home win to reach their first World Cup since 1998, were held to a goalless draw. Their stoppage-time penalty was overturned by VAR, ending their hopes.

Curaçao coach Dick Advocaat, absent from the match for personal reasons, will become the oldest manager ever to appear at a World Cup at age 78, surpassing Otto Rehhagel, who coached Greece at 71 in 2010.

Located 37 miles off the coast of Venezuela, Curaçao only became a constituent country within the Kingdom of the Netherlands in 2010, following the dissolution of the Netherlands Antilles. A decade ago they sat 150th in the FIFA rankings; they are now 82nd.

The expanded 48-team 2026 World Cup, combined with automatic qualification for hosts Canada, Mexico and the United States, boosted Curaçao’s chances. They become the fourth debutant at next summer’s tournament, joining Cape Verde, Uzbekistan and Jordan.

“It’s crazy — one of the biggest things that will happen to Curaçao,” said midfielder Juninho Bacuna, formerly of Huddersfield, Rangers and Birmingham, before the match. Speaking to BBC Radio 5 Live, he added: “It’s incredible. A few years ago you wouldn’t even think about it. To be part of it and help make that dream come true would be amazing.”

Curaçao won seven of their ten qualifiers and finished unbeaten, though their dream nearly collapsed deep into stoppage time when substitute Jeremy Antonisse appeared to foul Isaac Hayden in the box. Referee Ivan Barton initially awarded a penalty, but VAR sent him to the monitor and he overturned the call — to the fury of the home crowd.

Curaçao will be joined at the World Cup by Haiti and Panama from the CONCACAF qualifiers, while Jamaica must now go through the intercontinental play-offs. Haiti secured their first World Cup berth since 1974 with a 2–0 win over Nicaragua.