Curaçao Makes History as Smallest Nation to Qualify for a World Cup
Curaçao has become the smallest country ever, by population, to qualify for the FIFA World Cup after securing a crucial 0–0 draw with Jamaica. The result, achieved at the National Stadium in Kingston, sealed their place in the 2026 World Cup in the United States, Canada, and Mexico.
With only about 156,000 residents, the Caribbean island outpaced previous record-holder Iceland.
Despite a fierce second-half attack from Jamaica, Curaçao held firm to get the draw they needed.
Curaçao’s campaign in the CONCACAF qualifiers was impressive: they stayed unbeaten across all six matches in Group B, finishing top of the table with 12 points, one point ahead of Jamaica.
This marks the first-ever World Cup qualification for the national team, famously known as the “Blue Wave.”
Their achievement comes in the first World Cup to be expanded to 48 teams, a format change that has given smaller nations like Curaçao an unprecedented opportunity.