Curaçao and different small nations make Fifa World Cup historical past : NPR

BOGOTA, Colombia — Few tales seize the magic of subsequent 12 months’s FIFA World Cup fairly like Curaçao—a small Caribbean nation that has defied historical past, geography, and each expectation to succeed in the largest stage in international soccer.

With 42 of the 48 spots to compete within the 2026 World Cup now stuffed, the match is already shaping as much as be a historic one, with a number of different underdog nations defying the percentages to play on the occasion collectively hosted by the USA, Mexico, and Canada subsequent summer season.

Whereas a number of main European, Africa and Asian soccer groups did not qualify, together with Nigeria, China, India, Greece, Serbia, and Hungary, a number of small nations have made international headlines by securing their place in subsequent summer season’s competitors, some for the primary time.

From Curaçao to Cape Verde, here’s a take a look at among the minnows who’ve earned a spot within the 2026 World Cup

Curaçao

Till now, the tiny Caribbean nation of Curaçao was higher identified for its turquoise-blue liqueur and sun-soaked seashores than for its soccer feats. However after drawing 0–0 with Jamaica on Tuesday, the previous Dutch colony set a historic document by changing into the least populous nation ever to succeed in the FIFA World Cup.

Dwelling to roughly 150,000 folks and situated within the southern Caribbean simply off the coast of Venezuela— it has surpassed Iceland because the smallest nation to compete on the planet’s most prestigious soccer match.

As some extent of comparability, the World Cup remaining subsequent summer season might be performed on the MetLife stadium in New Jersey, which has a capability of 82,500 – greater than half of Curaçao’s inhabitants.

To beat the constraints of getting a small inhabitants, Curaçao, a Dutch Caribbean nation, has principally recruited gamers born within the Netherlands for its World Cup squad. The nation turned an autonomous territory inside the Kingdom of the Netherlands in 2010 following the dissolution of the Netherlands Antilles.

“Curaçao, like fairly a couple of examples of smaller nations, have been good at tapping into the diaspora, ringing anybody who might need a distant relative related to their nation,” defined Carl Worswick, an impartial sports activities journalist and soccer specialist.

Haiti

One other underdog to succeed in the worldwide match is Haiti, which has certified for the primary time since 1974, regardless of a raft of obstacles at house; the Caribbean nation is going through an acute safety and humanitarian disaster which has impacted each sector of society, together with soccer gamers.

“They have been dwelling the disaster in full scale… They have not been capable of prepare or play in Haiti for years due to the gang violence,” stated Harold Isaac, a Haitian journalist primarily based in Port-au-Prince.

Haiti’s coach since 2024, Frenchman Sebastien Migne, has by no means been to the nation, the place gangs management 90% of the capital metropolis Port-au-Prince.

Given the turmoil that many Haitians reside with, the World Cup qualification has been a glimmer of hope, in response to Isaac: “This actually got here as a form of unimaginable boon, morally, for the nation.”

Followers cheer within the streets of Port-au-Prince on Nov. 18, 2025 as Haiti celebrates its victory over Nicaragua and qualification for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

CLARENS SIFFROY/AFP by way of Getty Pictures

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CLARENS SIFFROY/AFP by way of Getty Pictures

Cape Verde

Cape Verde, a small Atlantic archipelago off the coast of West Africa, certified for the World Cup for the primary time final month when it beat the southern African nation of Eswatini 3-0. Earlier than Curaçao certified, Cape Verde had been the second-least populous nation to succeed in the World Cup, with a inhabitants of roughly 600,000.

The previous Portuguese colony has additionally recruited from its diaspora, with its staff notably that includes Heart-back Roberto Lopes, who was born in Eire to an Irish mom and Cape Verdean father.

Panama

One other small nation, Panama, might be making a return to the World Cup after its 2018 debut on the match.

The Central American nation of 4 and a half million folks beat El Salvador Tuesday to earn its place within the competitors. In 2018, Panama completed on the backside of its group with zero factors and can now have an opportunity at redemption.

A key cause that a number of small nations within the Americas have certified for the match is as a result of Canada, Mexico and the U.S. are internet hosting it. As hosts, these nations routinely qualify, leaving extra room for different nations within the Confederation of North, Central America and Caribbean Affiliation Soccer to win a spot.

Curacao gamers rejoice qualifying for the 2026 FIFA World Cup after their recreation with Jamaica in Kingston, Jamaica, Tuesday, Nov. 18, 2025.

Collin Reid/AP

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Collin Reid/AP

What’s subsequent for the minnows?

Whereas social media is flooded with movies of avenue events and parades as nations rejoice their {qualifications}, the street to the World Cup remains to be lengthy.

“I believe everybody assumes that, good, this may solely be a superb factor… however there’s a lesson to be discovered, it isn’t all the time optimistic,” stated soccer skilled Worswick.

He burdened the significance of nationwide Soccer Associations investing funds into their gamers and groups, citing high-profile scandals which have marred some nations’ World Cup debuts. Worswick defined that whereas qualifying for the World Cup places a rustic on the map, it typically additionally brings difficult points surrounding staff funds, preparation, and strain at house.

However for nations like Haiti, simply qualifying could also be sufficient: “The persons are struggling they usually’ve been struggling for years,” says Isaac, “they usually’re simply asking for hope, and that is what the staff introduced them.”