Curaçao makes history as smallest nation to qualify for World Cup

For Curaçao, it will be the first World Cup appearance in the country's history.

19 Nov 2025 01:51pm

Curaçao fans celebrate World Cup 2026 qualification after a 0-0 draw with Jamaica at the National Stadium in Kingston, Jamaica on November 18, 2025. The tiny Caribbean nation of Curacao became the smallest country ever to qualify for the World Cup on November 18 as Haiti booked their return to the tournament for the first time in 52 years along with Panama. A nerve-shredding finale to the CONCACAF qualifying campaign saw Curacao -- with a population of just 156,000 -- squeeze into next year's finals in the United States, Canada and Mexico with a 0-0 draw against Jamaica in Kingston. (Photo by Ricardo MAKYN / AFP)

CARACAS - Curaçao has qualified for the 2026 World Cup, becoming the smallest country by population ever to reach the tournament, German Press Agency (dpa) reported.

A 0-0 draw in Jamaica was enough for the island nation off the coast of Venezuela to finish unbeaten at the top of Group B in the North and Central American and Caribbean (CONCACAF) qualifiers and secure a place at the World Cup in the United States, Canada and Mexico.

Curaçao did so without coach Dick Advocaat, who missed the match after travelling home to the Netherlands for family reasons.

For Curaçao, it will be the first World Cup appearance in the country's history.

The island had a population of 156,115 as of January, according to the national statistics office.

Iceland, previously the smallest nation to qualify when it reached the 2018 World Cup, has more than twice as many inhabitants.

Panama and Haiti also qualified on Tuesday.

Panama secured its second World Cup ticket after 2018 with a 3-0 win over El Salvador.

Haiti won Group C after a 2-0 victory over Nicaragua, finishing ahead of the favoured teams from Honduras and Costa Rica.

Haiti's only previous World Cup appearance was in 1974 in Germany. - BERNAMA-dpa