Curacao, nation with 1/tenth inhabitants of Noida, creates historical past by qualifying for FIFA World Cup

Published on: Nov 19, 2025 10:30 am IST

Curaçao turns into smallest nation by inhabitants to qualify for FIFA World Cup with 0-0 draw towards Jamaica, surpassing Iceland’s file.

Curaçao etched their title into soccer historical past on Tuesday by turning into the smallest nation by inhabitants ever to qualify for the FIFA World Cup, sealing their place on the 2026 event with a nerve-shredding 0–0 draw towards Jamaica in Kingston. With simply 158,000 residents, the Caribbean island, throughout the Kingdom of the Netherlands, is now the tiniest nation (by inhabitants) to achieve the worldwide finals, surpassing Iceland’s 2018 file when the Nordic nation certified with greater than double Curaçao’s inhabitants.

Curacao gamers and followers rejoice World Cup 2026 qualification after a 0-0 draw with Jamaica(AFP)

To illustrate the size of the achievement, Curaçao’s inhabitants is nearly one-tenth that of NOIDA, a metropolis in India’s National Capital Region projected to achieve a million individuals this yr. India’s capital, Delhi, is at present residence to about 3.5 crore individuals.

Curaçao’s qualification got here on the finish of an unbeaten marketing campaign that noticed them end atop Group B with 12 factors. Managed by veteran Dutch coach Dick Advocaat, who missed the decisive match as a consequence of a household situation, the crew referred to as the Blue Wave impressed all through qualifying. Their run included a thumping 7–0 victory over Bermuda, the biggest win by any crew within the spherical and a outcome that in the end proved essential as they edged out Jamaica by a single level.

The finale in Kingston delivered excessive drama. Jamaica, coached by former England supervisor Steve McClaren, struck the woodwork 3 times within the second half and almost broke Curaçao hearts within the 87th minute when Bailey-Tye Cadamarteri’s header crashed off the submit. Deep into stoppage time, the hosts had been awarded a penalty after Dujuan Richards went down within the field, just for VAR to overturn the choice, sparking emotional celebrations on the Curaçao bench as they held on for the draw that sealed their first-ever World Cup berth.

Elsewhere in CONCACAF qualifying, Panama secured their second World Cup look with a commanding 3–0 win over El Salvador, ending as Group A winners with 12 factors. Suriname, who entered the ultimate spherical stage on factors with Panama, noticed their computerized qualification hopes dashed after a 3–1 defeat to Guatemala, although they nonetheless managed to earn a spot within the inter-federation playoffs.

In Group C, Haiti accomplished one of many area’s most stunning campaigns, returning to the World Cup for the primary time since 1974 after a 2–0 victory over Nicaragua. Goals from Louicius Don Deedson and Ruben Providence ensured Haiti topped the group with 11 factors. The win was particularly symbolic, approaching Curaçaoan soil as Haiti continued to play their residence fixtures away as a consequence of unrest again residence.

The ultimate playoff spots from CONCACAF went to Jamaica and Suriname, who now advance to a six-team inter-continental event in March, becoming a member of Bolivia, New Caledonia, DR Congo and Iraq in a battle for 2 remaining World Cup berths.

Curaçao will be taught their group-stage opponents on December 5, when FIFA conducts the World Cup draw on the Kennedy Centre in Washington, D.C.

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