On Tuesday November 18 2025, Curacao travelled to Kingston to take on Jamaica in a winner-takes-all World Cup qualifier.
Jamaica – led by Steve McClaren – trailed their opponents by one point, so needed to win to reach the tournament for the second time, and the first time since France ’98.
Curacao – led by Dick Advocaat – only needed one point to qualify for the tournament for the first time in history.
A 0-0 draw ensured they did just that.
Curacao qualified for their first World Cup after a 0-0 draw with Jamaica in November
It was a seismic result for the Caribbean nation, who – with a population of less than 160,000 – became the smallest to ever reach the World Cup.
But how did they get there? Who are their star players? And what are their chances?
Here are the key questions answered…
Where is Curacao?
Curacao is an island country in the Caribbean, around 40 miles north of the coast of Venezuela. Since the dissolution of the Dutch Antilles in 2010, it has been a constituent country within the Kingdom of the Netherlands.
The official languages are Dutch, English and Papiamentu – a Portuguese-based creole language – and the nation is known for the orange liqueur of the same name, which is often dyed a vibrant blue.
What’s their footballing history?
Pre-2010, the islands of Aruba, Bonaire, Saba, Sint Eustatius and Sint Maarten were all represented by the Netherlands Antilles national team. After the aforementioned dissolution, Curacao took on the Netherlands Antilles’ FIFA membership and ranking of 151.
Their first ever match was a 1-0 friendly defeat to the Dominican Republic on August 18, 2011 and their first ever win came on November 11, 2011 when they beat the US Virgin Islands 3-0.
Former Ajax and Barcelona striker Patrick Kluivert had one spell in charge between 2015 and 2016, and another as caretaker in 2021, while former PSV, Real Madrid and Chelsea manager Guus Hiddink was in charge between August 2020 and September 2021.
Former Barcelona striker Patrick Kluivert had two spells in charge of Curacao
Where are they ranked in the world?
In the latest FIFA rankings, ‘The Blue Wave’ sit 83rd out of 211 nations. That makes them the second-lowest ranked team at the World Cup behind New Zealand, who sit 85th.
The next update comes on June 11, the day the tournament starts.
Who is the manager now?
Legendary Dutch manager Dick Advocaat – who has had three separate spells in charge of the Netherlands – signed a one-year deal, with a further one-year option, in January 2024.
Dick Advocaat is set to become the oldest World Cup manager in history
His first official game in of The Blue Wave was on June 5 2024, when Curacao beat Barbados 4-1 in the capital Willemstad.
Advocaat guided Curacao to the World Cup – more on how they did that shortly – but resigned in February 2026 to care for his daughter, who was said to be experiencing health issues.
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Rotherham’s Ar’jany Martha discusses playing under Dick Advocaat for Curacao as they head to their first ever World Cup.
He said: “I’ve always said that family comes before football. This is therefore a natural decision. But that doesn’t change the fact that I will miss Curacao, the people there, and my colleagues very much.
“I consider qualifying the smallest country in the world for the World Cup one of the highlights of my career. I’m proud of my players, staff, and the board members who believed in us.”
But the 78-year-old replaced Fred Rutten and returned to his role in May after his daughter’s health improved. As a result, this summer, he will become the oldest manager in World Cup history.
How did they qualify?
Curacao started their journey to the World Cup in the second round of CONCACAF qualifying in June 2024, when a 4-1 win over Barbados preceded a 2-0 victory over Aruba.
It was another 12 months before they played their next two qualifiers, but they breezed through those, too, by way of a 4-0 triumph over Saint Lucia and a thumping 5-1 win against Haiti.
With four wins from four, they topped Group C and, along with second-placed Haiti, advanced to the third round.
They started that campaign in September 2025 with a 0-0 against Trinidad and Tobago, then were forced to dig deep against Bermuda to win 3-2, having led 2-0.
Next came a 2-0 win over Jamaica and a 1-1 draw with Trinidad and Tobago, before they exacted revenge on Bermuda for giving them a run for their money with a 7-0 crushing.
That teed them up for the crucial Jamaica game in November, with the 0-0 draw ensuring they qualified for the World Cup unbeaten.
How have they fared since?
Curacao have played three friendlies since qualifying and lost them all.
They played twice in Australia in March, first losing 2-0 to China in Sydney, before a 5-1 defeat to the Socceroos in Melbourne.
And in Advocaat’s first game back in charge on May 30, they lost 4-1 to Scotland at Hampden Park.
Tahith Chong scored the opener in Curacao’s defeat to Scotland
They have a farewell friendly against Aruba on June 6 before they fly to the USA.
Who plays for them?
Several players in this summer’s squad will be familiar to UK football fans, not least the Bacuna brothers: Juninho and Leandro.
Leandro played for Aston Villa, Reading, Cardiff and Watford between 2013 and 2023, while his sibling – six years his junior – played for Huddersfield, Rangers and Birmingham between 2018 and 2024.
Then there’s Tahith Chong – the only member of the squad born outside the Netherlands – who came through at Man Utd and has since gone on to play for Birmingham, Luton and, currently, Sheffield United.
Jurgen Locadia played 46 times for Brighton between 2018 and 2022, Shurandy Sambo has been on Burnley’s books since 2024 and Ar’jany Martha signed a three-year deal at Rotherham last summer. Martha’s cousin, Sontje Hansen, plays for Middlesbrough.
Kenji Gorre was part of Man Utd’s academy for nine years, Gervane Kastaneer spent time at Coventry and Hearts and Joshua Brenet was at Livingston for four months from October 2025.
Sheffield United’s Chong is the only member of the squad born outside the Netherlands
The most-capped player in the squad, aside from captain Leandro Bacuna is goalkeeper Eloy Room. The 37-year-old former Vitesse, PSV and Columbus Crewe stopper currently plays for USL Championship side Miami FC and has earned a joint-record 71 caps since his debut in 2015.
Sixteen members of the squad played for the Netherlands at youth level.
Who will they face and what are their chances?
- June 14: Germany vs Curacao, Houston – kick-off 6pm (UK time)
- June 20: Ecuador vs Curacao, Kansas City – kick-off 1am (UK time)
- June 25: Curacao vs Ivory Coast, Philadelphia – kick-off 9pm (UK time)
If Curacao were to win Group E, they would face the team that finished third in Group A/B/C/D or F and if they finished as runners-up, they would face the runners-up of Group I, which contains France, Senegal, Iraq and Norway.
And if they finished as one of the top-eight ranked third-placed teams, they would play the winners of Group A, D, G or L.
Advocaat’s side are priced at 8/1 to qualify for the knockout stages and in a group of 19 teams priced at 500/1 to win the tournament.
Curacao’s World Cup squad in full
Goalkeepers: Tyrick Bodak (SC Telstar), Trevor Doornbusch (VVV-Venlo), Eloy Room (Miami FC).
Defenders: Riechedly Bazoer (Konyaspor), Joshua Brenet (Kayserispor), Roshon van Eijma (RKC Waalwijk), Sherel Floranus (PEC Zwolle), Deveron Fonville (NEC Nijmegen), Jurien Gaari (Abha Club), Armando Obispo (PSV), Shurandy Sambo (Sparta Rotterdam).
Midfielders: Juninho Bacuna (FC Volendam), Leandro Bacuna (Igdır), Livano Comenencia (FC Zurich), Kevin Felida (FC Den Bosch), Ar’Jany Martha (Rotherham), Tyrese Noslin (SC Telstar), Godfried Roemeratoe (RKC Waalwijk).
Forwards: Jeremy Antonisse (AE Kifisia), Tahith Chong (Sheffield United), Kenji Gorre (Maccabi Haifa), Sontje Hansen (Middlesbrough), Gervane Kastaneer (Terengganu FC), Brandley Kuwas (FC Volendam), Jurgen Locadia (Miami FC), Jearl Margaritha (SK Beveren).
Manager: Dick Advocaat
