Curaçao will make its World Cup debut at the 2026 tournament in the United States, Mexico and Canada. In the first instalment of a four-part series, RFI looks at the journey of the smallest nation to qualify for the competition in its 96-year history.
Issued on: 01/06/2026 - 13:01
2 min Reading time
Curaçao, with a population of just over 158,000 and a land area of 444km², qualified for the World Cup when they drew 0-0 with Jamaica last November in Kingston. The Blue Wave – as Curaçao are nicknamed – will play their first match at the tournament against Germany, a country of 84 million people and one of the competition's most established sides. Germany appeared at two of the three World Cups held before the second world war. Following their ban from the 1950 competition in Brazil, German squads have been ever-present. Curaçao, situated some 65km north of Venezuela, played their first international in August 2011 against Dominican Republic. For 50 years before that, Curaçaoans featured internationally as part of a Netherlands Antilles team. Moment of history Their players will walk out on 14 June onto the field at NRG Stadium in Houston, Texas. "No matter which team we are playing, it's exciting," said Curaçao coach Dick Advocaat after the World Cup draw ceremony in December. "It's good for the island and it's good for the players." Curaçao will also play Ecuador at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City before finishing their Group E campaign against Côte d'Ivoire at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia. "It's the first time that Curaçao will play in this big tournament," added Advocaat. "We are a very hard-working team, the kind of team that is always difficult to play against."
