Smallest nation to reach a World Cup will be guided by the oldest coach in Dick Advocaat

This article is part of the Guardian’s 2026 World Cup Experts’ Network, a cooperation between some of the best media organisations from the 48 countries who qualified. theguardian.com is running previews from three countries each day in the run-up to the tournament kicking off on 11 June.

A Fifa member since 2011, Curaçao have spent years building towards a first World Cup appearance. As an autonomous country within the Kingdom of the Netherlands, the island has been able to draw on a rich pool of Dutch-raised talent with Curaçaoan roots.

They were well prepared for the qualifying cycle and had an advantage with the World Cup being hosted by the United States, Mexico and Canada. “We knew we wouldn’t face them in qualifying, which often proved a stumbling block,” said the goalkeeper Eloy Room about this edition’s Concacaf format. “So that became a real trigger for all of us, like: ‘if there’s a chance to reach the World Cup, it’s now.’”

Room mentions important qualifying games against Haiti, a 5-1 win, and the goalless draw with Trinidad that made them realise something special could be possible. Then came the home game against Jamaica, which Curaçao went on to win 2-0. When they drew the reverse leg 0-0, they achieved the unthinkable and qualified for the World Cup, remaining unbeaten in their 10 matches and making them the smallest nation to take part in a World Cup, both in population, about 156,000, and land area, 171 square miles.

14 June v Germany, Houston (noon local, 6pm BST, 15 June 3am AEST)

20 June v Ecuador, Kansas City (7pm local, 21 June 1am BST, 21 June 10am AEST)

25 June v Côte d'Ivoire, Philadelphia (4pm local, 9pm BST, 26 June 6am AEST)

“I think God was with us that night,” said Leandro Bacuna, the 34-year-old midfielder and Curaçao captain. “Because you’ve seen the game, everyone’s seen the game. Couple of balls on the post … Everywhere. But our keeper was great, so I think it was meant for us. It was a story written for us.”

To survive a group with Germany, Côte d’Ivoire and Ecuador would be a huge achievement. “We do want to continue in the same way we’ve played in recent years, by playing possession-based football from the back,” says Room. “But we will have to adapt because we’re going to a World Cup where we may have less of the ball than our opponents. Still, we have to stick to our own strengths as we can play good football.”

At 78, Dick Advocaat will become the oldest coach to take part in a World Cup, surpassing the record held by Otto Rehhagel, who was 71 when he led Greece in 2010. The former Rangers and Sunderland manager took charge in 2024 and guided Curaçao to qualification, making it one of his finest achievements of his career.

Yet in February he stepped down to be with his ill daughter and was succeeded by Fred Rutten, who had been unable to take the role in 2023 due to medical reasons. But when it became clear that the situation involving Advocaat’s daughter had improved, a behind-the-scenes push gathered momentum to bring him back, as he remained highly popular. Rumours circulated that sponsors had applied pressure on the federation to reinstate him and the situation intensified, after which Rutten stepped aside of his own accord, clearing the way for Advocaat’s return.

Leandro Bacuna has represented Curaçao for more than a decade and has played longest at the highest level, having spent three seasons in the Premier League with Aston Villa. Together with his younger brother Juninho he leads the team and forms part of one of the island’s best-known football families, with his brother Johnsen and their father, John, having represented the former Netherlands Antilles. Leandro is hugely popular among the local population, involving himself within the community. On international trips, he can often be found helping out with the luggage of the team, or other tasks, always ready to lend a hand when needed.

Livano Comenencia spent nine years at the PSV academy, before playing two seasons for their reserve side in the Dutch second tier. A regular for several Dutch youth national teams, he moved to Juventus in 2023, where he further developed his game with the club’s Next Gen team. Now at FC Zürich, the midfielder underlined his growing importance with a crucial goal in the 2-0 win over Jamaica. Technically polished and comfortable dictating play from deep, he combines composure on the ball with the engine of a classic box-to-box midfielder.

A steady presence at the back, Juriën Gaari was selected for Curaçao while playing for the Dutch amateur side Kozakken Boys and was then part of Curaçao’s Caribbean Cup win and the country’s first Gold Cup participation in 2017. It marked the start of a career that has since taken him to RKC Waalwijk and the Saudi clubs Al-Hazem and Abha Club. Although a late bloomer, he has amassed significant international experience with almost 60 games for Curaçao. Never one to seek the spotlight, he nevertheless commands respect and is an important presence within the team.

It is all singing and dancing, the Caribbean vibe wrapped in a warm exuberance. After Curaçao qualified, the music artist Jeon released Mama Wa’, a song dedicated to the Blue Wave, the team’s nickname. The song captures the pride surrounding the achievement, with several members of the squad mentioned. Estimates suggest more than 3,000 fans will travel for the opening match against Germany, with charter-flight packages being arranged from the island. Around three-quarters of that number are expected for the other group games.

Curaçao tends to take a broadly pragmatic view of the United States, viewing it through the prism of regional stability, economics and neighbouring Venezuela, whose coastline lies 65km away, underlining the island’s strategic position in the southern Caribbean. Foreign affairs and defence are handled by the Netherlands, of which Curaçao is a constituent country.

In regard to the tournament, the high prices threaten to limit the travelling support. “It’s just incredibly expensive,” said Angelo Cijntje, Curaçao’s performance coach. “This is not affordable for the average person in Curaçao. I’m wondering how they’re going to manage it. People will do everything they can, they might even be willing to sell their car just to experience this. But it’s a real pity Fifa and the US are making it so difficult to be there.”

World Cup 2026: Guardian Experts’ Network

Source: https://www.theguardian.com/football/2026/jun/01/curacao-world-cup-2026-team-guide