Top 10 smallest countries to qualify for a World Cup | OneFootball

Qualifying for a World Cup is already an achievement. But for some countries, it’s a true demographic miracle.

In the history of the World Cup, a few nations with a tiny talent pool have managed to make their way to football’s biggest stage, shaking up the giants and reminding us that passion can sometimes make up for population.

From Iceland’s incredible run in 2018 to the historic qualification of Curaçao and Cape Verde for the 2026 edition, these small territories have defied all predictions. Let’s take a closer look at these nations that, despite their size, have written some of the most beautiful chapters in world football.* 

1 - Curaçao — WC 2026 — 156,000 inhabitants

2 - Iceland — 2018 — 352,000 inhabitants

3 - Cape Verde — 2026 — 525,000 inhabitants

4 - Trinidad and Tobago — 2006 — 1,300,000 inhabitants

5 - Northern Ireland — 1958 — 1,400,000 inhabitants

6 - Paraguay — 1950 — 1,500,000 inhabitants

7 - Kuwait — 1982 — 1,700,000 inhabitants

8 - United Arab Emirates — 1990 — 1,900,000 inhabitants

9 - Slovenia — 2002 — 2,000,000 inhabitants

10 - Uruguay — 1950 — 2,200,000 inhabitants

NB: After the Second World War. Each nation is included only once.

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇫🇷 here.

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