The historic moment of qualification for the Football World Cup in 2026 by Curaçao has not come one step closer with the 1-1 in Willemstad against Trinidad & Tobago. “Not everyone was in top form,” Advocaat concluded afterwards. Competitor Jamaica is the new leader after winning in Bermuda. Next month the decision will be made in the away match of the blue shirts at Bermuda (November 13) or at Jamaica on November 19.
Dick Advocaat keeps a cool head as World Cup miracle approaches with Curaçao: ‘We shouldn’t talk about things like that yet’
If Dick Advocaat’s team wins group B, participation in the World Cup will be a fact. In second place, Curaçao has been sentenced to extra qualifying matches and the decision will be made sometime in March 2026.
Big party even before the start
With the support of the entire island, Curaçao far exceeded itself, as was evident last week in the 2-0 against Jamaica. But early on Wednesday morning it turned out to be a different story against Trinidad & Tobago, but fortunately for Advocaat & co the attack was repelled.
Long before the start there was a big party in and around the Ergilio Hato stadium in Willemstad. Men and women of all ages and also many children, almost everyone dressed in blue, sang, danced and drummed to encourage the Blue Wave.
Through the eye of the needle
It helped Advocaat’s team through the difficult initial phase against the Trinidad & Tobago of the famous striker of yesteryear at Aston Villa and Manchester United, Dwight Yorke. After a hot opening quarter, the nerves were calmed and Livano Comenencia took care of the situation. the man who scored the opening goal against Jamaica, for the home team’s first danger. His volley flew just wide.
Sixty seconds later in the 19e minute it was a hit due to good perseverance from striker Gervane Kastaneer. His cross eventually fell at the feet of Kenji Gorré. The Maccabi Haifa attacker cleverly curled the ball into the far cross, just as he had already scored against Jamaica: 1-0. The chances for both teams alternated with a slider by Comenencia on the post as the most dangerous moment on the Curaçao side. Trinidad & Tobago was especially threatening at corners and the islanders got through the eye of the needle when Kasteneer was relieved to see that the ball ended up through his body on the post and not behind goalkeeper Eloy Room.
The road to the 2026 World Cup is still open
Yet things still went wrong after almost an hour of playing. A returned ball could easily be finished by Tyrese Spicer: 1-1. It was the signal for Curaçao to leave their defensive positions and get involved in the match again. Especially in the knowledge that Jamaica took a 3-0 lead against Bermuda before half-time.
A win was needed for Curaçao to remain in the lead in Group B of the Concacaf zone. The place also gives the right to World Cup placement at the end of the third round in November. At the same time, it was important to leave Trinidad & Tobago behind for second place. The 1-1 was not enough for the first, but sufficient for the second and that was ultimately the highest possible against the better Trinidad & Tobago. Which means that the road to the 2026 World Cup is still open for Curaçao, although the starting position has deteriorated slightly.
No funeral march at Dick Advocaat
As a result, Advocaat did not join the funeral march. “We are still very much in the race,” said the 78-year-old Dutchman, who will become the oldest national coach in the history of the World Cup if he reaches the final tournament. “If we play the next match (on November 13 at the end of the year Bermuda, ed.) win, the last international match (on November 19 in Kingston against Jamaica, ed.) determines who comes first or second.”
“I can live with 1-1. We are still participating, something we may not have expected in advance. We do not simply walk over everyone, but we have a team that goes for it,” Advocaat concluded.