A Historic Night at Independence Park
Kingston, Jamaica — On a dramatic night at Independence Park, Curaçao earned a 0–0 draw against Jamaica and secured its first-ever spot in the FIFA World Cup. When the final whistle echoed through the stadium, generations of Curaçaoan dreams became reality. The island will play in the 2026 World Cup and will do so as the smallest nation ever to appear in a men’s tournament.
A Tense Match Under Unusual Circumstances
Curaçao faced a difficult situation before kickoff. Head coach Dick Advocaat returned to the Netherlands for a family matter, leaving assistant Dean Gore in charge. Even with the disruption, the Blue Wave started with calm and confidence.
Jamaica pressed from the beginning. A chaotic ricochet fell to Bobby De Cordova-Reid, but goalkeeper Eloy Room reacted quickly and blocked the attempt. Jamaica kept pushing and struck the posts three times. Shamar Nicholson came closest with a powerful header that crashed off the crossbar after superb buildup play from Dexter Lembikisa and Johnathan Russell.
Antonisse Scores, but the Flag Goes Up
Midway through the second half, Curaçao thought it had taken a massive step toward qualification. Jeremy Antonisse finished a well-worked attack with a clean low strike that beat Andre Blake and sent the traveling supporters into celebration. For a moment, Kingston fell silent. But the assistant referee’s flag went up. After a brief pause, the referee confirmed the decision: Antonisse was offside in the buildup, and the goal would not stand.
The disallowed strike added even more tension to a match already filled with high stakes. Curaçao regrouped quickly, tightened its shape, and refused to lose focus.
Late Drama and a Reversed Penalty
The tension peaked in stoppage time. Dujuan Richards drove into the box and fell after contact with Antonisse. The referee pointed to the spot, and the home crowd erupted. VAR halted the celebration. After a review, officials ruled that Antonisse reached the ball cleanly.
A Journey Three Decades in the Making
This World Cup berth crowns a 30-year rise. In the 1990s and early 2000s, Curaçao played as part of the Netherlands Antilles. The team fought hard but lacked the structure needed to compete internationally. After the dissolution of the Netherlands Antilles in 2010, Curaçao rebuilt its football system. Stronger leadership, better youth development, and a new generation of players — many competing in Europe — transformed the program.
By the late 2010s, Curaçao earned respect across CONCACAF. The team came close to major breakthroughs yet fell just short. Years of steady growth now lead to this landmark moment.
The Smallest Nation Ever to Reach the World Cup
Curaçao’s qualification carries historic weight. With roughly 155,000 residents, the island becomes the smallest country to reach a men’s World Cup. Iceland held the previous record in 2018 with about 335,000 people. Trinidad & Tobago, another Caribbean qualifier, reached the 2006 World Cup with more than a million residents. Even the 2026 debutants Uzbekistan, Jordan, and Cape Verde have populations far larger than Curaçao. Cape Verde, often considered small, is more than three times bigger.
No nation of Curaçao’s size has ever produced the depth, structure, and talent needed for a World Cup run.
A Moment That Defines a Nation
When the match ended, Curaçao’s players hugged, fell to the ground, and ran toward their supporters. It stands as a victory rooted in identity, determination, and a deep, generational passion for the sport.
Curaçao is World Cup-bound, and the world will soon watch the smallest nation ever to step onto football’s greatest stage.