WILLEMSTAD (DA) — Fred Rutten will remain Curaçao’s national team coach for the 2026 FIFA World Cup after the football federation’s board rejected requests from internationals and sponsors to bring Dick Advocaat back.
Curaçao Football Federation (FFK) president Gilbert Martina said Rutten has the board’s support and will represent Curaçao at the World Cup.
“Fred Rutten will represent Curaçao as national coach during the World Cup,” Martina said.
The decision follows internal pressure for Advocaat’s return after Curaçao’s difficult start under Rutten. Rutten took over in late February after Advocaat stepped down because of the serious illness of his daughter.
Curaçao lost 2-0 to China and 5-1 to Australia during Rutten’s first trip in charge in March. The results came after Advocaat had led Curaçao to a historic World Cup qualification in November 2025, making the island the smallest nation ever to qualify for a World Cup finals.
Martina said the appointment and dismissal of a national team coach is a board responsibility and must follow FFK’s statutes.
“Decision-making at the football federation FFK is founded on more than only the wishes of players and sponsors and is anchored in the statutes of FFK,” Martina said.
He added that the same principle applies to other football federations, including the KNVB in the Netherlands and the DFB in Germany.
“Fred Rutten was appointed as national coach after Dick Advocaat’s departure in February 2026 and Fred Rutten will represent Curaçao as national coach during the World Cup,” Martina said.
Advocaat, 78, had stepped away after guiding Curaçao through the most important campaign in the country’s football history. In the release announcing his departure in February, Advocaat called the qualification of the smallest FIFA nation in the world for the World Cup one of the highlights of his career.
The push for his return has created tension around Curaçao’s preparation. A source in Dutch football argued that Advocaat could not take over from Rutten under the current circumstances because such a move would undermine Rutten after only a short period in charge.
A source also indicated that Corendon, one of the key financial backers of Curaçao’s World Cup project, was disappointed by the decision not to bring Advocaat back. The source indicated Corendon will honor all financial commitments related to the 2026 World Cup, but will no longer serve as the financial engine behind the national team after the tournament.
Rutten now continues toward Curaçao’s next matches. He is scheduled to present the national team players Tuesday, May 12, at Corendon in Willemstad, Curaçao, for the upcoming match against Scotland on May 30 and the June 6 match against Aruba.
Curaçao will face Germany, Ecuador and Ivory Coast at the World Cup.