Canada: In one of the most thrilling nights in CONCACAF history, Curacao etched its name into football folklore by becoming the smallest country ever to qualify for the FIFA World Cup.
With a population of just 156,000, the Dutch Caribbean island secured a historic spot in the 2026 tournament, which will be hosted across the United States, Canada, and Mexico.
Curacao’s 0-0 draw against Jamaica was enough to seal their qualification. The match was tense, with Jamaica hitting the woodwork three times in the second half and surviving a late penalty scare. Salvadoran referee Ivan Barton initially awarded a spot-kick, but VAR overturned the decision, preserving Curacao’s dream and sparking celebrations across the island.
History made for Curaçao! A #FIFAWorldCup debut awaits. 👏🇨🇼@aramco | #WeAre26 pic.twitter.com/b9TzNAwELn
— FIFA World Cup (@FIFAWorldCup) November 19, 2025
Known as the ‘Blue Wave’, Curacao finished at the top of Group B with 12 points from six matches, edging Jamaica by one point. In doing so, they surpassed Iceland, which has a population of around 350,000, as the smallest nation to reach the World Cup.
The day also saw other historic moments in the region. Haiti secured its first World Cup appearance since 1974 by defeating Nicaragua 2-0. Goals from Louicius Don Deedson and Ruben Providence, coupled with a goalless draw between Honduras and Costa Rica, propelled Haiti to the top of Group C with 11 points.
Panama claimed the final automatic CONCACAF berth with a commanding 3-0 win over El Salvador. The FIFA World Cup 2026 will feature 48 teams for the first time in the tournament’s history, setting the stage for an expanded and highly anticipated global competition.
