Curaçao has created a miracle that no one believed was possible—qualifying for the 2026 FIFA World Cup despite being a tiny island of just 150,000 people, with a team ranked 82nd in the world.

Curaçao secured its first-ever World Cup ticket with a 0–0 draw against Jamaica on November 19 (KST), finishing the CONCACAF Group B qualifiers undefeated with 3 wins and 3 draws. As a result, they became the smallest nation by population in history to reach the World Cup, breaking Iceland’s previous population record of 350,000. 
Reuters

Curaçao, part of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, is better known as the home of numerous Major League Baseball players. Baseball fields are common, while football resources are limited in Curaçao. That’s why their sudden World Cup qualification feels like a true underdog story.

A major contributor to this achievement is head coach Dick Advocaat, who took over last year. Many Korean fans remember him as the coach who led South Korea to its first-ever World Cup win on foreign soil during the 2006 Germany World Cup. Also, if he stays on through 2026, the 78-year-old will become the oldest manager in World Cup history. 

Curaçao’s journey shows that football’s greatest stories often come from the smallest places. No one expected Curaçao to secure the World Cup ticket, but they achieved their dreams. Curaçao didn’t just qualify for the World Cup—they reminded the world that miracles can rise from islands many have never heard of, proving once again that in football, anything is possible.

김선균 강남포스트 학생기자  webmaster@ignnews.kr

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