Most people hear ‘Curacao’ and think of the blue liqueur that brightens up cocktail menus around the world. But this tiny Caribbean Island is now shaking up something far more intoxicating: an unthinkable World Cup dream on the brink of reality.
The constituent island nation of the Netherlands, located just 40 miles north of Venezuela, only celebrated its 15-year anniversary last month and are now just 90 minutes away from securing qualification to next summer’s tournament in the United States, Canada and Mexico.
With a population of just 150,000 people, fewer than in UK towns like Slough or Warrington, and covering only 444km squared, Curacao is so small you could fit nearly four of them inside Greater London.
And yet, if they avoid defeat away at Jamaica on Tuesday night (Wednesday at 1am local time), the country will become smallest nation by size to qualify for the World Cup in its history – and by some distance.
In fact, the record has only recently been broken by African nation Cape Verde, who sealed qualification for next summer’s tournament with a 3-0 victory over Eswatini last month. In total, you could fit an incredible nine Curacaos inside Cape Verde.
Iceland are currently the smallest country in World Cup history to qualify, having appeared at the tournament in 2018 with a population of approximately 350,000.
Caribbean island Curacao are one match away from qualifying for next summer’s World Cup
Covering a total area of 444km squared, Curacao is so small you could fit nearly four of them inside Greater London – and the island only has a population of just over 150,000 people
Seasoned international manager Dick Advocaat has steered Curacao to the brink of qualifying
The helmsman who has steered Curacao within touching distance of the World Cup dream is former Premier League manager Dick Advocaat, who took charge of Sunderland between March and October 2015.
Despite his short stint with the Black Cats, the Dutchman, 78, best known for his coaching on the international stage, having managed Belgium, Russia, South Korea, United Arab Emirates, Serbia, Iraq and the Netherlands on three separate occasions.
Advocat, who was named Curacao boss in January 2024, has guided the Caribbean island through a remarkable, undefeated qualifying campaign so far, top of Group B with 11 points after three wins and two draws.
Lurking dangerously behind them on 10 points, however, is Steve McClaren’s Jamaica, making Tuesday’s clash a decisive shootout for a place in the tournament.
Jamaica boast a rich wealth of top players including Ethan Pinnock, Demarai Gray and Bobby Decordova-Reid, while Curacao themselves have plenty of stars at their disposal.
Sibling duo Leandro and Juninho Bacuna and former Manchester United star Tahith Chong have all regularly featured for teams in the top two tiers of English football.
Chong is, in fact, the only player in Advocaat’s squad who has not been naturalised, meaning the overwhelming majority of Curacao stars are imports.
Meanwhile, Curacao have the luxury of goal-scorers across the entire team, with six of their seven goals in the 7-0 win over Bermuda coming from separate players.
The Bacuna brothers (Juninho, left, and Leandro, right) are two of Curacao’s high-profile stars
A win or draw against Steve McClaren’s Jamaica will earn Curacao World Cup qualification
The constituent island nation of the Netherlands is located just 40 miles north of Venezuela
Jamaica represents a different test entirely, however, especially as Advocaat will not be pitchside to manage the team.
The manager, who arrived with the team in Kingston over the weekend, was forced to leave almost immediately because of ‘family reasons’.
Advocaat confirmed in a statement: ‘It’s a very difficult decision to have to leave the boys here. I had to make this decision with a heavy heart, but family is more important than football.
‘From the Netherlands, I will stay in close contact with the staff and I have complete confidence in this group of players.’
Despite being without Advocaat, who has coached 22 teams across his lengthy managerial career, Curacao are determined not to let his absence tell.
‘It’s bad news for us, but we understand that family is always a priority,’ the team’s goalkeeper Eloy Room told Dutch NOS television.
‘The coach doesn’t have to worry, we will give everything against Jamaica.’
Should they succeed in beating or drawing against Jamaica on Tuesday, the players will not only write Curacao into the record books.
In a blow to the underdog nation, Advocaat will be absent from the game for ‘family reasons’
If they win or draw, they will become smallest nation by size to qualify in World Cup history
Advocaat is bidding to become the oldest manager in World Cup history to coach at the tournament, with Otto Rehhagel of Greece currently holding the record at the age of 71 years and 317 days at the 2010 competition.
‘Everyone knows Dick Advocaat is a big name, he is a big coach and everyone respects him in his decisions and the way he works,’ key player Juninho Bacuna told BBC Radio 5 Live ahead of the crunch clash.
‘His presence is really important for us as a team and also for the country, and his impact has been really big.
‘We started working with him in qualifying for the Nations League and we saw a growth in the team in the way we worked and the way we fought in games.’
Get the job done against Jamaica, and the tiny island nation synonymous with blue cocktails will have already served up one of the stories of the summer, before even a single ball is kicked.
