Nov 20, 2025
3 min read
Curacao became the youngest country to qualify for the World Cup when Steve McClaren drew Jamaica.
Curacao became the youngest country to qualify for the World Cup
Curacao, a small Caribbean island, has become the youngest country to win the cup after Steve McLaren and Jamaica.
The record reached the finals in 2018, but their country has more than 150,000 inhabitants, or 151 square meters.
Former England boss McClaren resigned as Jamaica boss after his side, needing a win in Kingston to qualify for their first World Cup since 1998, were held to a goalless draw, including an injury-time penalty disallowed by VAR.
Curacao, who has coached the grounds, will be the oldest wheat coach in the world at 78, in charge of Greece at the age of 71 in 2010.
Curaçao, located 37 miles off the coast of Venezuela, became part of the Kingdom of the Netherlands only in 2010 after the collapse of the Netherlands Antilles.
Ten years ago, they were 150th in the FIFA world rankings.Now they are 82nd.
The list of 2026 feet, about 32, with the most of the Canadant
"He's crazy and he could be one of the biggest things to happen to Curaçao," midfielder Juninho Bacuna, a former Huddersfield manager and Birmingham player, said before the game.
Speaking to Radio 5 Live, he added: "It's unbelievable and amazing. Even a year later you wouldn't have expected it.
"To be a part of it and make that dream come true will be incredible."
In 10 qualifying matches, they have won seven and finished their campaign unbeaten.
Their fairytale appeared to be shattered in the fourth minute of five minutes of added time late in the game when Curaçao substitute Jeremy Antonis appeared to bring down Isaac Hayden and El Salvador referee Ivan Barton immediately pointed to the spot.
But the referee was encouraged by VAR officials to investigate the incident on the small touchline screen and reversed his decision to the dismay of the crowd.
They raise the threat of any CONCACAU SERVANTS CONFLICTING THE CONCACAFTA to the World Cup in Haiti and Panama.
The Caribbean island of Haiti sealed their place at their first World Cup since 1974 after beating Nicaragua 2-0.
When will the draw for the WC 2026 take place?
- Posted 2 days ago
A lawyer makes history at the World Cup
From January 2024, Dutchman Advocaat, 78, is in charge of his eighth national team after three spells with the Netherlands, having coached the United Arab Emirates, South Korea, Belgium, Russia, Serbia and Iraq.
He helped the Netherlands reach the quarter-finals of the 1994 World Cup and his South Korean side exited the Group Stage in 2006.
List of his organizations by PSV, suppliers, Zenit, Zenit Saint Petersburg, Turchenland.
Advocaat only became Curacao boss after a payment dispute between the players and the country's football association was resolved, and he immediately set his sights on qualifying for the 2026 World Cup.
"Everybody knows that Dick the lawyer is a big name, he's a big coach and he adds to the way he works.
"We started working with him in the Nations League qualifiers and we saw a growth in the team in the way we worked and the way we fought in matches."
Dutch talent and some British players
In addition to having a Dutch coach, most of the Curacao team's players were born in the Netherlands but had family ties that allowed them to play for the Advocaat team.
Their links include Devenston keeper Joshua Brenet, Rutherham Mortfield Stnan and Sheffield United and previously in the Premier League with Manchester United.
For Bacuna, playing in Curaçao was also an opportunity to play international football with his older brother Leandro, the national team captain, and this was a key part of his motivation after representing the Netherlands at U21 level.
"I started playing for Curacao in 2019 and it was a big decision for me," said Juninho Bacuna."Then I was only 21 years old and had many years ahead of me to see my opportunities for the Dutch national team.
“But I decided early on to play for Curacao.Part of it was because I was able to play on the same team as my brother and my family who saw us play together.”
"The second reason was at that time there was no chance to play for the Dutch national team, realistically. I saw many players my age already playing for the Dutch national team, but I didn't have the opportunity to be called, so the choice was quick to play for Curacao."
But Bacuna believes the growth of football will encourage more workers to represent the group known as the Blue Family.
"We still see young players who are able to play for the Netherlands and they come to play for Curacao - and make the team even stronger," Bacona added.
- October 1
- Published 16 Aug
