Curaçao fans celebrate World Cup 2026 qualification after a 0-0 draw with Jamaica at the National Stadium in Kingston, Jamaica on November 18, 2025. The tiny Caribbean nation of Curacao became the smallest country ever to qualify for the World Cup on November 18 as Haiti booked their return to the tournament for the first time in 52 years along with Panama. A nerve-shredding finale to the CONCACAF qualifying campaign saw Curacao — with a population of just 156,000 — squeeze into next year’s finals in the United States, Canada and Mexico with a 0-0 draw against Jamaica in Kingston. (Photo by Ricardo MAKYN / AFP)
The tiny Caribbean nation of Curacao became the smallest country ever to qualify for the World Cup on Tuesday after battling to a 0-0 draw against Jamaica in Kingston.
Curacao –- with a population of just 156,000 people -– fought off a furious second-half onslaught from the Reggae Boyz to grab the draw they needed to clinch their ticket to the World Cup in the United States, Canada and Mexico.
The result capped a fairytale qualification campaign for the team known as the ‘Blue Wave’, who finished top of Group B with 12 points from six games, one point clear of Jamaica.
Curacao are by far the smallest nation ever to qualify for the World Cup, which is being expanded to 48 teams next year for the first time.
The previous smallest country to qualify for the tournament were Iceland in 2018, with a population of around 350,000.
Disclaimer
Comments expressed here do not reflect the opinions of Vanguard newspapers or any employee thereof.