Overview
- Curaçao clinched its first World Cup berth with a 0-0 draw in Kingston, where a stoppage-time Jamaica penalty was overturned by VAR.
- The team topped Group B with 12 points and finished unbeaten, highlighted by a 2-0 home win over Jamaica and a 7-0 victory against Bermuda.
- With a population of about 156,000, Curaçao surpasses Iceland as the smallest nation by population to qualify for the tournament.
- Head coach Dick Advocaat missed the decisive match for family reasons but remains credited with the campaign’s overhaul and could be the oldest coach at the 2026 World Cup.
- Most of the squad hails from the Netherlands, reflecting a deliberate integration of diaspora players and a more professional national setup.