KINGSTON, Jamaica (BN24)— Curaçao reached the World Cup for the first time Tuesday night, salvaging a 0-0 draw against Jamaica in Kingston and becoming the smallest nation by population to ever qualify for the tournament. The Caribbean island, a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, secured its place atop Group B with 12 points and completed the qualifying round undefeated.
The achievement comes as Nigeria, Africa’s most populous country and a traditional football power failed to qualify for next year’s tournament. Nigeria, with more than 200 million people and a national team stocked with internationally recognized players, fell short despite its sizable football infrastructure and resources.
Curaçao’s milestone qualification was secured without head coach Dick Advocaat on the sideline. The 78-year-old coach returned to the Netherlands over the weekend due to a family matter. Advocaat previously guided the Netherlands national team in three separate tenures and has managed South Korea, Belgium, and Russia.
The Central Bureau of Statistics in Willemstad, the capital of Curaçao, reported a population of 156,115 as of January, establishing the country as the smallest ever to qualify for a World Cup. The previous record was held by Iceland, which entered the 2018 World Cup with a population just above 350,000.
Elsewhere in CONCACAF, Panama, of Panama City, qualified for its second World Cup after a 3-0 victory over El Salvador in Panama City. Cesar Blackman scored in the 17th minute, Erick Davis added another in the 45th, and Jose Luis Rodriguez sealed the match in the 85th. Panama finished atop Group A with 12 points, while Suriname, based in Paramaribo, lost 3-1 to Guatemala and settled for second with nine points. Panama’s last World Cup appearance was in 2018.
In Managua, Nicaragua, Haiti clinched its second-ever World Cup berth with a 2-1 win over the Nicaraguan side, finishing first in Group C ahead of Honduras and Costa Rica. Loicious Deedson scored in the ninth minute, and Ruben Providence added a goal in the 45th to secure Haiti’s first World Cup appearance since Germany 1974. Haiti finished with 11 points, while Honduras tallied nine and Costa Rica seven.
Curaçao’s breakthrough qualification marks a historic moment for the small island nation and reshapes expectations across global football, especially as larger nations such as Nigeria face increased scrutiny following their surprising absence from the upcoming tournament.
