The small Caribbean island nation of Curacao has made soccer historical past after recording a draw towards Jamaica to safe direct qualification into the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
With a inhabitants of roughly 150,000, simply shy of the inhabitants of Cairns, Curacao made an announcement all through the qualifying phases, sitting first of their World Cup qualifying group up till their match towards Jamaica on Wednesday.
Curacao survived an electrical attacking effort from Jamaica to surpass Iceland because the smallest ever nation by inhabitants to qualify for the World Cup.
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Curacao gamers rejoice after securing a spot within the World Cup draw. Twitter
“A blue wave is heading to the World Cup,” a commentator on CBS Sports activities mentioned.
Cape Verde made history just a month ago when they secured direct qualification for next year’s tournament, being then the second-smallest nation by inhabitants, behind Iceland, to qualify.
It’s a exceptional achievement for Curacao to be within the World Cup, on condition that 10 years in the past they had been one hundred and fiftieth on the world rankings. Now, they’re 82nd.
Positioned simply off the coast of Venezuela and a constituent nation of the Netherlands, Curacao is thought for its vibrant coral reefs and seashores.
The island is so small that many soccer followers can be unfamiliar with a person who was born within the nation, other than any member of the present nationwide workforce.
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In truth, the nation isn’t even represented on the Olympic Video games as it’s not a sovereign nation. Subsequently, its athletes need to compete as Unbiased Olympic athletes or symbolize the Netherlands.
However one man who can be acquainted to some Australian followers is the workforce’s head coach, who was linked with the Socceroos job nearly 20 years in the past.
Curacao coach Dick Advocaat throughout a coaching session. ANP by way of Getty Photographs
Dick Advocaat, head coach of Curacao, backflipped on his contract to turn out to be the following Socceroos coach in 2007 to stay at membership degree with Zenit St Petersburg in Russia.
That contract saga unfolded simply two months out from the primary match of the World Cup qualifiers on the time, leaving Australia with out a head coach.
On the time, Advocaat declared that he was merely supplied a deal too good to show down with the Russian membership workforce, which finally led him to renege on the Socceroos.
Fellow Dutch supervisor Pim Verbeek then took over the Socceroos.
Advocaat, 78, was appointed head coach of the Curacao nationwide workforce final January, however was not current throughout Wednesday’s match to look at the gamers make historical past.
As per an announcement from the workforce, Advocaat was pressured to depart the workforce to return dwelling to the Netherlands because of household causes.
Curacao gamers seen in motion. Icon Sportswire by way of Getty Photographs
See which nations have certified for the 2026 FIFA World Cup under:
CONCACAF [North / Central America and the Caribbean]
Canada, Mexico, United States [host nations], Curacao, Haiti and Panama.
UEFA [Europe]
England, France, Croatia, Austria, Belgium, Germany, Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Scotland, Spain and Switzerland.
CONMEBOL [South America]
Argentina, Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, Paraguay and Uruguay.
CAF [Africa]
Algeria, Cape Verde, Egypt, Ghana, Ivory Coast, Morocco, Senegal, South Africa and Tunisia.
AFC [Asia]
Japan, Australia, Iran, Jordan, Korea Republic, Uzbekistan, Qatar and Saudi Arabia.
OFC [Oceania]
New Zealand.
There are six spots nonetheless open, which can be decided by sudden-death playoffs.
