FIFA World Cup Qualifiers: Curaçao makes history as the smallest nation by population to qualify for the World Cup

Curaçao salvaged a 0-0 draw with Jamaica on Tuesday (November 18, 2025) to grow to be the smallest nation by inhabitants to qualify for a World Cup and shall be joined by CONCACAF sides Panama and Haiti which additionally booked their spots.

Curaçao completed as the one undefeated nation within the event and completed atop of Group B with 12 factors to advance to the World Cup for the primary time in its historical past.

Curaçao acquired the historic outcome regardless of not having its coach Dick Advocaat on the bench. The 78-year-old Advocaat missed the essential match as a result of he needed to return to the Netherlands final weekend for household causes.

Advocaat was on the helm of the Netherlands nationwide crew for 3 stints and managed South Korea, Belgium and Russia earlier than taking the job with Curaçao.

Curacao followers have fun after they qualify for the World Cup
| Picture Credit score:
Reuters

Jamaica got here near taking the lead within the 54th minute with a header from Greg Leigh that bounced off the precise submit. Two extra headers rattled the posts as Jamaica pushed in the hunt for the winner, with Shamar Nicholson hitting the crossbar within the seventieth minute and Bailey Cadamarteri the precise submit within the 87th.

In stoppage time, Jamaica was awarded a penalty after substitute Jeremy Antonisse’s sliding sort out introduced down Dujuan Richards within the space. But it surely was overturned after a video evaluate.

Beating Iceland’s report

In response to the Central Bureau of Statistics in Curaçao, the nation has a inhabitants of 156,115 individuals as of final January. Iceland, with a inhabitants of simply over 350,000 was the smallest nation to achieve the World Cup when it certified for the event in Russia in 2018.

Panama superior to its second World Cup after defeating El Salvador 3-0 on first-half targets from César Blackman (17) and Erick Davis (45). Jose Luis Rodriguez (85) added a purpose for the Panamanians, who’ve Russia 2018 as their solely World Cup look.

Panama completed as the very best crew in Group A with 12 factors whereas Suriname, which got here into the final spherical main the way in which on purpose distinction, misplaced 3-1 in opposition to Guatemala and completed in second place with 9 factors.

Haiti, a troubled Caribbean nation, had a stunning marketing campaign, profitable Group C over favourites Honduras and Costa Rica after beating Nicaragua 2-0.

Loicious Deedson opened the scoring within the ninth minute and Ruben Windfall added a purpose within the forty fifth. Haiti’s solely earlier journey to the World Cup was in Germany in 1974.

The CONCAFAC outcomes Tuesday finalised the six groups which can participate within the intercontinental playoffs in Mexico in March of subsequent yr. Two groups will qualify from the playoffs which incorporates Iraq in Asia, Congo in Africa, Jamaica and Suriname from CONCACAF, Bolivia from South America and New Caledonia from Oceania.