With only 155,000 inhabitants and 444 sq km of territory, Curacao is the smallest nation ever to qualify for a World Cup, in terms of both population and size.
Most of the inhabitants of the Caribbean island, located just 60km off the Venezuelan coast, could fit in the venue for the final, the MetLife Stadium in New Jersey (capacity 82,500).
Curacao boss Dick Advocaat, 78, will become the oldest coach to lead a side at a World Cup. The former Rangers and PSV boss has also been the national manager of eight different countries, but called qualifying with Curacao “the craziest thing I’ve ever achieved as a coach”.
For a brief period until Curacao qualified, Cape Verde was the country with the second-smallest population to qualify. The small Atlantic archipelago off the coast of West Africa booked their place after beating Eswatini 3-0 last month.
Victory meant the Blue Sharks secured top spot in their group and a place at the 2026 tournament ahead of continental heavyweights Cameroon.
The national team has relied heavily on members of the diaspora to improve its footballing fortunes over recent years. Centre-back Roberto “Pico” Lopes – who was born and plays in Ireland – got his first call-up via an approach on business networking website LinkedIn.
“We’re all over the world. It’s great what we can achieve when we’re together,” he told the BBC’s Destination New Jersey podcast.
