Overview
- Dick Advocaat resigned as Curacao head coach to prioritize his daughter’s health, saying family comes before football in a statement released by the federation.
- The federation named Dutch veteran Fred Rutten as his successor, adding a coach with PSV and Feyenoord experience to steer the team into the tournament.
- Curacao is set to debut at the World Cup against Germany on June 14 in Houston in Group E, which also includes Ecuador and Ivory Coast.
- The Caribbean nation will be the smallest by population ever to play a men’s World Cup, with a roster built largely from Netherlands-based diaspora talent.
- With fewer than four months to prepare, the team’s schedule is tight, and a local report indicates Rutten may get only one official match before group play.