Curacao makes history as the smallest nation to ever reach a World Cup, joining other giant-killers like Cape Verde and a star-studded Scotland side for the upcoming tournament.
According to a report from Planet Football, the Caribbean island of Curacao has made history by becoming the smallest nation ever to qualify for the FIFA World Cup, following a tense 0–0 draw with Jamaica. The result secured top spot in Group B for Curacao and guaranteed their place at World Cup 2026.
Curacao, with a population of around 180,000, is now officially the least populous country to ever reach football’s showpiece tournament, surpassing previous record-holders such as Iceland and Cape Verde.
Planet Football notes that the island’s population is “similar to the population of Ipswich or Sunderland.”
The report explained that Curacao finished the qualifying campaign undefeated, collecting 12 points from six matches to edge out Jamaica.
Their accomplishment was made even more remarkable by the fact that they held steady through pressure in their decisive away match, securing the draw in Kingston.
Led by veteran coach Dick Advocaat, Curacao managed to cap off a fairytale qualifying run. The article highlights that Advocaat, a former Sunderland boss and seasoned international manager, was absent for the final game.
Despite his absence, the team held firm under pressure to seal their spot in the expanded 48-team tournament.
Planet Football also placed Curacao’s achievement in historical perspective, listing them as the smallest nation by population among the ten smallest countries qualified for the 2026 World Cup.
The list ranks Curacao ahead of Cape Verde (population ~528,000), Qatar (~3.1 million), Uruguay (~3.3 million), Croatia (~3.8 million), Panama (~4.5 million), New Zealand (~5.2 million), Scotland (~5.5 million), Norway (~5.6 million), and Paraguay (~7 million).
For Curacao, this marks their first-ever appearance at a World Cup finals. The Planet Football report portrays their road to qualification as a “fairytale” run, made more dramatic by the fact that this island nation – despite its small size – outperformed larger nations in their qualifying group.
As the global football community reacts to Curacao’s momentous breakthrough, the island’s achievement stands not only as a sporting milestone but as a symbolic triumph for small nations everywhere in the world of football.