WILLEMSTAD (DA) — Fundashon Bicentini is bringing the CONCACAF Nations League and Gold Cup format to children in Curaçao through a large-scale youth project combining football with social and educational activities.
The initiative, created by former Curaçao national team coach Remko Bicentini, is open to children ages 9 to 13, including students in groups 6, 7 and 8 of primary school and youngsters from neighborhoods across Curaçao.
The project will feature 41 youth teams, each representing one of the countries involved across the three leagues of the CONCACAF Nations League. The countries will be assigned through an official draw to be broadcast on Curaçao television.
The children’s competition is scheduled to include 114 Nations League matches, provisionally planned for November and December 2026 and March 2027. A Gold Cup phase is expected to follow in June 2027 with 43 matches.
The format is designed to give participants their own version of the pathway from the Nations League to the Gold Cup while extending the program beyond results on the field.
Each team will also complete a social project connected to the country it represents. The program will address themes including health, inclusion, participation and social connection, while introducing children to the cultures and communities of the 41 represented nations.
Fundashon Bicentini also plans opportunities for teams to share their projects with one another, with cooperation, respect and global citizenship forming part of the program.
Bicentini said the initiative is intended to give children a platform to develop confidence and discover their own abilities, with football serving as the vehicle for a broader community program.
The organizers also envision a specially transformed Gold Cup setting in Curaçao for the final stage of the project, giving many participants an opportunity to play in a major-event environment.
For Bicentini, the measure of success will extend well beyond the scoreboard. The project is designed as an investment in Curaçao’s children, with the goal of leaving participants with greater confidence, perspective and lasting memories.