World Cup: Curacao become smallest nation to qualify for World Cup after Jamaica draw
The tiny Caribbean island of Curacao has become the smallest nation to qualify for the World Cup after drawing with Steve McClaren’s Jamaica.
The record was held by Iceland, who reached the 2018 finals, but their country is much larger than Curacao, which has a population of just over 150,000 (similar to Cambridge or Huddersfield) and an area of 171 square miles, which is smaller than the Isle of Man.
Former England coach McClaren resigned as Jamaica coach after his side, needing a win in Kingston to qualify for their first World Cup since 1998, ended in a goalless draw, including an extra-time penalty canceled out by VAR.
Curacao coach Dick Advocaat, who was not in the match due to personal reasons, will become the oldest coach in the World Cup at the age of 78, breaking the record of Otto Rehhagel, who took over the head coach of Greece in 2010 at the age of 71.
Curacao, located 37 miles off the coast of Venezuela, became a country affiliated with the Kingdom of the Netherlands in 2010, following the dissolution of the Netherlands Antilles.
Ten years ago they were ranked 150th in FIFA’s world rankings. They are now ranked 82nd.
The expanded 2026 World Cup format, which features 48 countries instead of 32, and the fact that Canada, Mexico and the United States automatically qualify, have given Curacao the chance to become the fourth debutant in next summer’s tournament, joining Cape Verde, Uzbekistan and Jordan.
“This is crazy and will be one of the biggest things to happen to Curacao,” midfielder Juninho Bacuna, a former Huddersfield, Rangers and Birmingham player, said before the match.
Speaking to BBC Radio 5 Live, he added: “It’s incredible and amazing. Even a few years ago you wouldn’t even think about it.”
“It would be incredible to personally be a part of this and make this dream a reality.”
They won seven of 10 qualifying matches and finished their season undefeated.
The fairy tales were shattered in the fourth of five minutes of play when Curacao’s Jeremy Antonisse brought down Isaac Hayden and El Salvador referee Ivan Barton immediately pointed to the spot.
But the referee was quickly encouraged by VAR officials to control the incident on the small touchline screen and reversed his own decision to the surprise of the crowd.
In the World Cup, Conacaf will join Haiti and Panama in the qualifiers, while Jamaica will have to participate in the Intercontinental play-offs.
The Caribbean island of Haiti defeated Nicaragua 2-0 and qualified for the World Cup for the first time since 1974.
