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Curaçao Qualifies for 2026 World Cup, Smallest Nation Ever to Reach the Finals

A scoreless draw secured the island’s first World Cup berth under the expanded 48-team format.

Overview

  • Curaçao clinched its first-ever World Cup with a 0-0 draw against Jamaica, becoming the smallest country by population to reach the tournament.
  • The draw put Curaçao top of its group on 12 points ahead of Jamaica on 11, with Trinidad and Tobago on 9 and Bermuda on 0.
  • The push to qualification followed a 7-0 win over Bermuda that set up the decisive final matchday scenario.
  • Head coach Dick Advocaat had returned home for family reasons before the decider, leaving the team to finish the job without him on the touchline.
  • Elsewhere in CONCACAF, Panama and Haiti qualified, while Jamaica and Suriname progressed to the intercontinental playoff.