Curacao Achieves Historic FIFA World Cup Qualification Record

Curacao's Remarkable Football Milestone

On June 17, Guinness World Records officially acknowledged Curacao as the smallest nation by population to qualify for the FIFA World Cup, marking a significant achievement for the island.

With a population of merely 156,115, Curacao has made its mark on the global football scene by securing a spot in the prestigious tournament.

In a post on X, Guinness World Records expressed their pleasure in presenting a certificate to Gilbert Martina, the President of the Curacao Football Federation, recognizing this unique accomplishment.

We were delighted to present Gilbert Martina, the President of the Curaçao Football Federation, the certificate for the smallest country by population to qualify for the FIFA World Cup – 156,115 people pic.twitter.com/G8wOmNDEzZ

— Guinness World Records (@GWR) June 16, 2026

Curacao's manager, Dick Advocaat, has urged his team to transform this experience into a memorable tournament, expressing optimism about their upcoming group stage matches despite a tough opening loss to Germany.

In their first match, Curacao briefly unsettled the German team with an equalizer from Livano Comenencia in the 21st minute. However, the four-time champions responded decisively, ultimately winning 7-1, with notable performances from Kai Havertz and Deniz Undav.

Despite the setback, Advocaat reassured his players, emphasizing that the defeat should not lead to discouragement, as it is not a disgrace.

After the match, he remarked, "We need to turn this into a beautiful tournament. We can have a surprise in the second and third matches. In the end, we will be glad we were part of the biggest football tournament in the world."

He acknowledged the team's expectations against Germany, admitting their strength and the ease with which they conceded goals. Advocaat also expressed gratitude for the support from fans who traveled to the US, even as Germany continued to score.

Reflecting on the emotional moment during the national anthem, he shared, "This is related to the joy of the people in Curacao. This is when the emotions come to the surface. The joy of the people is fantastic."

Curacao made history by scoring a goal in their World Cup debut against the formidable German team.