Curaçao has officially been recognized by Guinness World Records as the smallest nation ever to qualify for the FIFA World Cup, marking a historic milestone just days before its tournament debut on Sunday.
The Caribbean island, with a population of roughly 150,000 people, secured its place in World Cup history after completing a remarkable qualifying campaign and punching its ticket to the expanded 2026 tournament.
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Guinness World Records confirmed the achievement, recognizing Curaçao as the smallest country — by—population—ever to qualify for a men’s FIFA World Cup.
The honor comes as the team prepares to make its first-ever World Cup appearance, turning years of development in the nation’s soccer program into a global breakthrough moment.
Curaçao’s qualification surpassed Iceland’s previous record, which had stood since the 2018 World Cup in Russia, when the island nation became the smallest country to ever reach the tournament at that time.
The team’s qualification run included a decisive draw against Jamaica in CONCACAF play, sealing its place among the 2026 World Cup field and sparking celebrations across the island.
Much of Curaçao’s squad features a blend of locally developed talent and Dutch-born players with Curaçaoan heritage, a factor that has helped elevate the nation onto the world stage.
Curaçao will now prepare for its World Cup debut, entering a group stage that places the nation against established international powers as it steps into the biggest tournament in soccer.
by—population—ever