Get to know Curaçao, World Cup debutants

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Gazeta Esportiva.com

·19 November 2025

Get to know Curaçao, World Cup debutants

Fans will get to know another national team at the next World Cup: Curaçao will be one of the debutants in the 2026 edition. The country has experienced rapid growth in football and secured its qualification with an undefeated campaign in the Concacaf Qualifiers, leading Group B. The celebration came after Tuesday's draw against Jamaica.

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Curiosities about Curaçao

Football Evolution

The Curaçao national team is nicknamed the “Blue Wave”.
Under the management of coach Dick Advocaat, Curaçao had an undefeated run in 10 matches in the Qualifiers.
In the second round, they claimed victories against Barbados, Aruba, Saint Lucia, and Haiti, scoring 15 goals.
In the third round, they faced teams such as Jamaica, Trinidad and Tobago, and Bermuda.
Highlights of the campaign: 2–0 over Jamaica at home; 7–0 over Bermuda, kicking off November’s FIFA window.
The team heads to the World Cup with names like Tahith Chong, Kenji Gorré, and brothers Leandro and Juninho Bacuna, symbols of this “new blue wave” in the Caribbean.

Photo: ANGEL BATTA / AFP

Curaçao: country, culture, and context

Caribbean island located north of the Venezuelan coast, about 65 km from the Paraguaná Peninsula, with a total area of 444 km² and a population of 165,000 (2023 estimate).
Curaçao is part of the so-called Dutch Caribbean and is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands.
Official languages: Dutch and Papiamento (a creole with elements of Portuguese, Spanish, Dutch, African, and Indigenous languages).
The island is known for its colorful colonial architecture, vibrant art scene, and great cultural diversity.
The capital, Willemstad, is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, famous for its pastel-colored waterfront buildings.
The local culture blends Dutch, Caribbean, and Afro-Caribbean influences, visible in its cuisine, music, and festivals.
Curaçao is also a popular tourist destination for divers and snorkelers, featuring: Crystal-clear waters, Vibrant coral reefs and diverse marine life, The Curaçao Underwater Marine Park, with underwater caves and a sunken tugboat.
Curaçao is the first country to qualify for a World Cup without having any players born in the country. Between 1954 and 2010, the country was part of the Netherlands Antilles. Afterwards, it became an autonomous country within the Kingdom of the Netherlands, All players called up for the historic qualification were born in the Netherlands, but have family or roots on the island.

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