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The record was previously owned by Iceland, who made it to the finals in 2018, but their geographical size greatly surpasses that of Curacao, which has a population of slightly over 150,000—comparable to cities like Cambridge or Huddersfield—and encompasses an area of 171 square miles, which is less than the Isle of Man.
McClaren, the former England manager, stepped down from his position as Jamaica's head coach after his team, which was seeking a victory in Kingston to secure their first World Cup berth since 1998, ended up with a scoreless draw, which included an injury-time penalty that was overturned by VAR.
Curacao's coach, Dick Advocaat, who was absent from the match for personal reasons, is set to become the oldest coach to participate in a World Cup at the age of 78, surpassing Otto Rehhagel's previous record when he was 71 while managing Greece in 2010.
Curacao, located 37 miles from Venezuela's coast, gained its status as a country within the Kingdom of the Netherlands in 2010, following the breakup of the Netherlands Antilles.
A decade ago, they were ranked 150th in FIFA's world standings. Presently, they sit at 82nd.
With the new expanded format of the 2026 World Cup, which includes 48 teams instead of the previously established 32, and with the automatic qualification granted to the hosts Canada, Mexico, and the United States, Curacao has significantly improved their chances as they become one of four debuting nations at next summer's tournament, joining Cape Verde, Uzbekistan, and Jordan.
"It's unbelievable and would mark a tremendous milestone for Curacao," expressed midfielder Juninho Bacuna, a former player for Huddersfield, Rangers, and Birmingham, prior to the match.
In an interview with BBC Radio 5 Live, he remarked, "It's astonishing and wonderful. Just a few years back, this would have seemed unimaginable.
"Being a part of it personally and realizing that dream would be extraordinary."
Throughout ten qualifying matches, they achieved seven victories and completed their campaign without a loss.
Their fairytale seemed to be in jeopardy during the fourth minute of the five minutes of added time, when Curacao substitute Jeremy Antonisse appeared to foul Isaac Hayden, leading the El Salvador referee Ivan Barton to promptly award a penalty kick.
However, the referee was soon prompted by the VAR officials to review the incident on the nearby touchline screen, ultimately reversing his initial decision, which shocked the spectators.
Curacao will participate in the World Cup alongside Haiti and Panama from the CONCACAF qualifiers, while Jamaica will need to compete in the Intercontinental play-offs.
Haiti, another Caribbean nation, earned their place in the World Cup, marking their first appearance since 1974 after beating Nicaragua 2-0.
Advocaat's entry into World Cup history
As of January 2024, the Dutchman Advocaat, at 78 years old, has taken the helm of his eighth national team, following three terms with the Netherlands, and coaching stints for the United Arab Emirates, South Korea, Belgium, Russia, Serbia, and Iraq.
He was instrumental in leading the Netherlands to the quarter-finals of the 1994 World Cup, while his South Korean squad exited at the group stage in 2006.
His extensive club management experience includes overseeing teams such as PSV Eindhoven, Rangers, Zenit St Petersburg, Sunderland, and Feyenoord.
Dick Advocaat took on the role of head coach for Curacao only after a resolution was reached regarding a financial disagreement between the players and the football association of the nation. He promptly focused on the goal of securing a spot in the 2026 World Cup.
“Everyone recognizes that Dick Advocaat is an established figure; he is a respected coach, and his decisions and approach to coaching are highly regarded by all,” Bacuna remarked. “His presence is crucial for our team and the nation, and he has made a significant impact.”
“We began our collaboration with him while qualifying for the Nations League, and we witnessed a development in the team regarding our work ethic and our determination during matches.”
Featuring Dutch talent alongside players with British origins
In addition to having a Dutch head coach, most of the athletes representing Curacao were born in the Netherlands yet hold familial connections that allow them to join Advocaat's squad.
The roster features Livingston defender Joshua Brenet, Rotherham midfielder Ar'jany Martha, Middlesbrough striker Sontje Hansen, and Sheffield United midfielder Tahith Chong, who was born in Curacao and has prior experience in the Premier League with Manchester United.
For Bacuna, joining Curacao represented an opportunity to participate in international football alongside his older brother Leandro, who serves as the team’s captain, which was a crucial factor in his decision after he had played for the Netherlands at the under-21 level.
“I began playing for Curacao in 2019, and it was a significant choice for me,” Juninho Bacuna recounted. “At that point, I was only 21 and had many years ahead to consider my prospects with the Dutch national team.
“However, I chose early on to represent Curacao. One reason for my decision was the opportunity to team up with my brother and for our family to witness us playing together.
“The other reason was that, at that moment, my realistic chances of being called up to the Dutch national team were limited. I saw many players my age already being selected for the national squad, while I had yet to receive an opportunity, so my decision to play for Curacao was straightforward.”
Yet, Bacuna is optimistic that the recent advancements in the country’s football scene will motivate more Dutch-born athletes to join the team, affectionately known as The Blue Family.
“We're observing a growing number of younger players who are still eligible to represent Holland opting to play for Curacao, which strengthens our team further,” Bacuna concluded.
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