Curaçao makes history as smallest nation ever to qualify for World Cup

Curaçao secured a historic 0-0 draw against Jamaica on Tuesday, becoming the smallest nation by population to qualify for a FIFA World Cup. 

The Caribbean island nation will be joined by fellow CONCACAF representatives Panama and Haiti, who also sealed their spots.

Curaçao completed the qualifiers as the only undefeated team in the tournament, finishing at the top of Group B with 12 points to earn its first-ever World Cup berth.

The team achieved the milestone despite the absence of head coach Dick Advocaat, who was unable .to be on the bench for the decisive match. 

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The 78-year-old returned to the Netherlands over the weekend due to family matters.

Advocaat, a veteran manager, previously led the Netherlands national team across three different spells and also coached South Korea, Belgium, and Russia before taking charge of Curaçao.

According to the Central Bureau of Statistics in Curaçao, the country had a population of 156,115 as of last January. Prior to this, Iceland—population just over 350,000—held the record as the smallest nation to reach a World Cup, having qualified for the 2018 tournament in Russia.

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