Suzanne Huurman makes history as only woman to head a World Cup medical department | OneFootball

Suzanne Huurman, a Corinthians fan from São Paulo, is making history at the 2026 World Cup as the only woman leading a team's medical department, with debutants Curaçao.

"It is a great honour, and a big responsibility, to be the only woman. When I started in sports medicine and professional football, there were very few women, especially in elite men's football," she told ge.globo.

With about 160,000 inhabitants, Curaçao are the smallest nation ever to play at a World Cup. They lost 7-1 to Germany in their opener but celebrated a historic first goal that briefly made it 1-1. "The feeling when we scored that goal against Germany was hard to describe. For a few minutes the score was 1-1 at a World Cup, and for a small country like Curaçao that is very special. There is a huge zest for life, a positive energy and a passion for football that reminds me of Brazil," she said.

She built her career in Europe with Real Madrid and PSV, and worked with Dutch youth teams and the Olympic side. Recommended by Professor Casper van Eijck, she joined Curaçao a few months before the tournament. This is her first men's World Cup after experience at FIFA events and at Paris 2024.

Huurman remains close to Corinthians. "It is great fun to see Memphis Depay playing for Corinthians. In the Netherlands he is one of the best-known of his generation and his arrival has brought huge visibility for the club," she said. Curaçao face Ecuador at 21:00 Brasília time on Saturday in Kansas City, United States, in Group E.

Source: Meu Timao