Curaçao Gets Ready to Make History this June by Participating in the FIFA World Cup for the First Time

27 May

Curacao is getting ready to make history. Last November, fans erupted in celebration as the players marked a remarkable 10-match unbeaten streak with scenes of joy, pride, and accomplishment.

For the first time, the island nation will take part in the world-famous FIFA World Cup, to be held this June in the USA, Canada, and Mexico.

The Smallest Country to Ever be in the Tournament will Face a 4-Time Champion

Curacao’s debut will be on June 14 against none other than Germany, a legend in the international soccer arena and four-time champion, boasting the ultimate title in 1954, 1974, 1990, and 2014.

With a population of 160,000 and a land area of 171 square miles, Curacao breaks a record as the smallest nation by both population and area to ever reach the World Cup. This June and July, the Blue Wave will measure itself against Germany, Ecuador, and the Ivory Coast, participating in group E and fighting its way towards the knockout stage.

The Journey to Fulfilling a Dream

Their victory against Jamaica on November 18, 2025, was a historic milestone and brought the team one step closer to achieving every soccer player’s ultimate dream.

The blue wave was unbeaten through the 10 games of the elimination season, after a period of team consolidation, technical preparation, and consistent growth.

The history of soccer on the island starts over a century ago, when the very first club was founded by students returning from the Netherlands. An official national soccer team was created in 1924 to represent the Territory of Curacao.

Since then, soccer has grown and changed with the country as it transitioned from the Netherlands Antilles to independence in 2010. A year later, they were recognized as official members of FIFA.

Meet the heroes

160,000 people will be cheering for Dick Advocaat and his players, some of whom have prolific careers in Europe and Asia.

Leandro Bacuna, for instance, has played with Ashton Villa and Cardiff City from the Premier League, while Rangelo Janga, the team's all-time leading goalscorer, has played in the Netherlands, Belgium, and Cyprus.

Before coach Dick Advocaat finally accepted the job in January 2024, the position had been turned down by several other candidates. It was no surprise that many declined, since the national soccer association was underfunded and seriously disorganized at the time. This situation posed a challenge that most coaches were unwilling to face.

As the association's financial situation improved thanks to sponsorship and several rearrangements, Advocaat accepted the role and dedicated himself fully to finding his team.

He began talking to several players, digging into dual citizens or those who could be eligible through their parents. Finally, most of the recruits were players living in the Netherlands.

After this came training, improving the team base, aligning strategies, and months of hard work. It all paid off when the team qualified for the tournament after a successful run, with 15 goals scored and only 2 against.

From CONCACAF, only two more teams made it to the World Cup: Haiti and Panama, in addition to the three hosts who were already pre-qualified.

Now, all of them will have to put in their best effort in the field from June 11 to 19th July, hoping to take part in the most coveted game: the finals, to be held at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey.

Curaçao may be one of the smallest nations ever to reach the World Cup, but few teams will carry more pride and excitement. Simply qualifying is already a historic achievement. Fans will no doubt celebrate their team wholeheartedly, regardless of the final results.