Curaçao Achieves Historic World Cup Qualification
Curaçao has made history by becoming the smallest nation by population to ever qualify for the World Cup, tying Jamaica in a 0-0 draw on Tuesday. This marks the first time the Caribbean island nation has reached the tournament, with the team remaining undefeated in the qualifying group. Despite the absence of head coach Dick Advocaat, Curaçao secured its place in the tournament, surpassing previous records held by Iceland and Cape Verde.
The team finished as the lone undefeated nation in the qualifying tournament and finished atop Group B with 12 points. The achievement is particularly notable as the team managed this feat without their head coach, Dick Advocaat, who was in the Netherlands for family reasons. This accomplishment surpasses previous records, with Iceland previously holding the title of the smallest nation to qualify for the World Cup. Curaçao’s population of 156,115 as of January 2023 places it at the top of the list of the smallest nations to ever compete in the World Cup.
When Iceland made the World Cup in 2018, its population was 352,000. Cape Verde, which, like Curaçao, qualified for the World Cup for the first time in the nation’s history, has the third-smallest population size of any competing nation. The milestone for Curaçao highlights the growing presence of smaller nations in international football, showcasing the sport’s global reach. This achievement also underscores the importance of national pride and the determination of athletes representing their countries on the world stage.
The Associated Press contributed to this report. Follow Fox News Digital’s sports coverage on X, and subscribe to the Fox News Sports Huddle newsletter.