Curacao, with a population of just 150,000, has surpassed the previous record holder Iceland (350,000 inhabitants) as the smallest nation ever to qualify for a FIFA World Cup. The island covers about 440 square kilometers, making it roughly six times smaller than the smallest U.S. state, Rhode Island.
Curacao is best known for its beaches, diving spots, and the liqueur named after it. Football is not the most popular sport on the island – that honor goes to baseball, which has produced around 15 players who made it to the U.S. Major Leagues. The most famous is Andruw Jones, who was inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame in January 2025 after 17 MLB seasons.
“Football used to be much bigger here. From the 1960s through the 1980s, everyone watched,” Carl Ruiter told Deutsche Welle. The World Cup qualification has given the sport a huge boost on the island: stadiums were full for the last home games. “That shows the whole nation was really invested – desperate to reach the World Cup and eager to support our national team,” Ruiter said. While the expansion of the World Cup to 48 teams made it easier for small football nations like Curacao to qualify, the achievement is still remarkable, as the team remained unbeaten throughout the entire qualification campaign.
Source: www.dw.com
