Curaçao Makes History As Smallest Nation By Population To Qualify For World Cup – Arise News

By Reporter Ben On Nov 19, 2025

Curaçao has made global football history after becoming the smallest nation by population to qualify for a World Cup. The team sealed its place with a 0-0 draw against Jamaica on Tuesday, completing the qualifiers undefeated and finishing top of Group B with 12 points.

The achievement marks Curaçao’s first ever appearance at the tournament and places it ahead of Iceland, which previously held the record with a population of just over 350000 when it reached the 2018 World Cup in Russia. Curaçao’s population stood at 156115 as of last January, according to the Central Bureau of Statistics.

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The team reached the milestone without coach Dick Advocaat on the sidelines. The 78 year old, who previously managed the Netherlands national team in three separate stints as well as South Korea, Belgium, and Russia, returned to the Netherlands last weekend for family reasons.

Curaçao will be joined at the World Cup by fellow CONCACAF qualifiers Panama and Haiti, which also secured their places.

Faridah Abdulkadiri