It would be a record
Football dwarf Curaçao hopes to qualify for the World Cup
October 11, 2025 – 8:37 a.mReading time: 2 minutes
With Curaçao, another absolute outsider has a good chance of qualifying for the World Cup. A familiar face takes a seat in the coaching bench.
Football dwarf Curaçao has taken the next step towards its World Cup debut. Former Dutch bond coach Dick Advocaat’s team won the North and Central American qualification 2-0 (1-0) against favorites Jamaica and moved to the top of Group B with seven points after three of six games.
In Willemstad, Livano Comenencia scored for the hosts in the 14th minute and Kenji Gorré after just over an hour (68th). After three matchdays, Curaçao leads the Group B table with seven points. Only the group winner qualifies directly for the 2026 World Cup, which will take place in the USA, Canada and Mexico. Curaçao continues on Tuesday against Trinidad and Tobago, currently third in the group. In last place is Bermuda.
Former Bochum player Jürgen Locadia was also in the starting line-up. The Caribbean island is an autonomous part of the Netherlands – so Advocaat relies on many players from its homeland. The 78-year-old, who once coached Borussia Mönchengladbach, is aiming for his third World Cup participation as national coach. He previously represented the Netherlands (1998) and South Korea (2006) at World Championships.
Curaçao’s team describes Advocaat as a “unique team”. The feeling of togetherness and passion were “impressive” despite the short time together, explained the trainer. If first place is missed, the only way out is second place, which entitles the team to take part in the intercontinental play-offs in March.
With around 150,000 inhabitants, Curaçao would be the smallest World Cup participant in history. So far, Iceland holds this record with around 330,000 people. In the other groups, outsiders Suriname, who have also never reached a finals, and Haiti, who played in Germany in 1974, are at the top.