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 pool have managed to carve a path to the biggest football event, challenging the giants and reminding us that passion can sometimes make up for population size.

From Iceland's incredible journey in 2018 to the historic qualification of Curaçao and Cape Verde for the 2026 edition, these small territories have defied all odds. Let's take a closer look at these nations that, despite their size, have written one 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 World War II. 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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