Overview
- Curaçao clinched its first World Cup berth in November with a 0-0 draw against Jamaica secured when an added-time penalty was ruled out, making it the smallest nation ever to reach the finals.
- Veteran coach Dick Advocaat stepped down for family reasons, and the federation installed Dutch manager Fred Rutten as sole head coach, rejecting talk of any advisory role for Advocaat.
- Curaçao will face Germany, Ivory Coast and Ecuador in Group E, a daunting slate that officials say will demand the same composure shown in qualifying.
- Tourism officials report a 13% rise in visitor numbers in early 2026, and Prime Minister Gilmar Pisas says World Cup exposure is putting the island on the global map.
- The squad relies almost entirely on Dutch-based players developed abroad, a sign of limited local resources on an island of roughly 160,000 people and 3,500–4,000 registered footballers.