WILLEMSTAD (DA) — Curaçao’s 2026 FIFA World Cup preparations are coming into sharper focus with three friendlies already confirmed, and the federation now working behind the scenes to add one more match — a fourth tune-up that sources say is increasingly pointing toward a Cape Verde meeting in Rotterdam.
That extra match has become the next major piece of Curaçao’s buildup. Sources familiar with the discussions told Deporte Awe that the federation is weighing two primary options: a friendly against Turkey in Miami, or a match against Cape Verde in Rotterdam at De Kuip stadium.
The Turkey concept would offer Curaçao a high-profile opponent in the United States and a chance to play in a market with a sizable Caribbean footprint, while also providing a European-style test against a physical, well-supported national team. The Miami setting could also simplify travel and logistics compared with a European-based fixture.
Still, sources said Curaçao appears more and more inclined toward the Rotterdam option as planning continues. Deporte Awe previously reported the Cape Verde-Rotterdam possibility, and the renewed push is being viewed internally as a strong fit for both sporting and community reasons.
With Scotland already locked in for May 30 in Glasgow, Curaçao remains in talks with Cape Verde to play during the June window, according to the source. Cape Verde, like Curaçao, will make its World Cup debut in 2026.
Rotterdam has long been a major diaspora hub for both countries. Dutch national statistics have reported that Rotterdam is home to the Netherlands’ largest Curaçaoan community, at around 23,000 people of Curaçaoan descent. The Cape Verdean community in the Netherlands is also heavily concentrated in and around Rotterdam, where it is widely regarded as the country’s main population center for Cape Verdean-origin residents.
If completed, a match against Cape Verde would also give Curaçao an African opponent as the federation looks to mirror Group E’s mix of confederations during its build-up.
Curaçao’s confirmed slate already includes a March FIFA Series window in Australia — against China in Sydney and Australia in Melbourne — followed by the Scotland friendly at Barclays Hampden Park. The potential fourth match would add another meaningful test as Curaçao sharpens its roster and match rhythm ahead of the World Cup year.
A final decision on the additional opponent, including date and venue details, has not been announced.