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Curacao to Become Smallest Nation by Area and Population at 2026 World Cup
The Caribbean island of Curacao, population 158,000, will field a 26-player squad at the 2026 World Cup. Only one player was born on the island; the rest hold Dutch passports. Manager Dick Advocaat, 78, will be the oldest coach in tournament history.
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Curacao will field a squad at the 2026 World Cup after finishing unbeaten in qualifying with seven wins and three draws. The island, smaller than the Isle of Man and home to 158,000 people, is part of the Kingdom of the Netherlands and not a fully independent state.
Twenty-five of the 26 players were born in the Netherlands.
Tahith Chong is the only squad member born on the island. Eighteen players previously represented the Netherlands at youth level; two earned senior caps. The shift toward players from the Dutch diaspora began after the federation hired Patrick Kluivert in 2015. Fifteen current squad members made their Curacao debuts since 2023.
Dick Advocaat, 78, returns as head coach after stepping down in February for family reasons. He will become the oldest manager in World Cup history. Assistant coach Dean Gorre led the team during a 0-0 draw against Jamaica that secured qualification.
Curacao lost 4-1 to Scotland and beat Aruba 4-0 in pre-tournament matches. The squad is drawn in Group E alongside Germany, Ecuador and Ivory Coast. Captain Leandro Bacuna said the team aims to secure results rather than play for enjoyment. Thousands of supporters are expected in Houston for the opening match against Germany on Sunday.
