Nation dossier · Group E · Out in the group stage

Curaçao

Country of Curaçao

Group ECONCACAFEliminated

Latest Curaçao 0–2 Ivory Coast · Group E

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Title probability

0.0%

as of 2026-07-20

Overview

Curaçao arrive at their first ever World Cup as the smallest nation by population ever to qualify — a barely believable story for a Dutch Caribbean island of roughly 150,000 people. Built almost entirely from the deep well of Dutch-developed talent with island roots, this is a squad that punches dramatically above its tiny weight.

Under a savvy, Eredivisie-literate coaching staff, the Blue Wave turned a golden generation into history during CONCACAF qualifying, riding organisation, set-piece menace and the leadership of veterans like Eloy Room and the Bacuna brothers. Expectations are modest but the pride is immense.

Capital

Willemstad

Population

152,000

Confederation

CONCACAF

FIFA code

CUW

World

Region

From Wikipedia

Curaçao, officially the Country of Curaçao, is a constituent country within the Kingdom of the Netherlands. It is an island country located in the southern Caribbean Sea, specifically the Dutch Caribbean region, about 65 km (40 mi) north of Venezuela and 80 km (50 mi) southeast of Aruba. Curaçao includes the main island of Curaçao,…

Source: Wikipedia →

Squad

Goalkeepers3

1
Eloy Room
Miami FC · Joint most-capped player; first Curaçao MOTM
75caps
25
Tyrick Bodak
Telstar
26
Trevor Doornbusch
VVV-Venlo

Defenders11

2
Shurandy Sambo
Sparta Rotterdam
3
Juriën Gaari
Abha
4
Roshon van Eijma
RKC Waalwijk · Energetic left-sided defender
12caps
5
Sheral Floranus
PEC Zwolle
8
Livano Comenencia
FC Zürich · Scored Curaçao's first World Cup goal
10caps
13
Deveron Fonville
NEC Nijmegen
15
Ar'jany Martha
Rotherham United
18
Armando Obispo
PSV Eindhoven · Composed ball-playing centre-back
15caps
20
Joshua Brenet
Kayserispor
23
Riechedly Bazoer
Konyaspor · Former Ajax and Netherlands youth captain
–
Tyrese Noslin
Telstar

Midfielders4

6
Godfried Roemeratoe
RKC Waalwijk
7
Juninho Bacuna
Gaziantep · Powerful pressing midfielder
25caps
10
Leandro Bacuna
Iğdır FK · Captain; joint most-capped player
75caps
–
Kevin Felida
Den Bosch

Forwards8

7
Tahith Chong
Sheffield United · Ex-Manchester United academy; switched from Netherlands
14caps
9
Jürgen Locadia
Miami FC · Former PSV and Brighton striker
18caps
11
Jeremy Antonisse
Kifisia
12
Sontje Hansen
Middlesbrough · Pacey young wing threat
9caps
14
Kenji Gorré
Maccabi Haifa · Tricky attacking midfielder
22caps
16
Jearl Margaritha
SK Beveren
17
Brandley Kuwas
FC Volendam · Mercurial set-piece specialist
45caps
19
Gervane Kastaneer
Terengganu FC · Explosive counter-attacking runner
20caps

Model

as of 2026-07-20

Champion0.0%

Reach final0.0%

Semi-final0.0%

Quarter-final0.0%

Round of 160.0%

Advance from group0.0%

Exp. points

1.00

Proj. finish

40.5

Seed Elo

1500

Title-probability trajectory

Champion chance across the last 14 snapshots

Matches

Results

Lincoln Financial Field, Philadelphia

Arrowhead Stadium, Kansas City

NRG Stadium, Houston

History

2026
Group stage

Culture

Football culture

Football competes with baseball as the island's passion, and the rise of the national team has electrified a new generation. Matches at Stadion Ergilio Hato are joyous, drum-fuelled occasions, and qualification turned the whole island blue with pride.

Did you know

Curaçao would be the least populous nation ever to play at a World Cup.
The famous blue Curaçao liqueur is made from the dried peel of the island's bitter laraha orange.
Papiamentu, a Creole language, is spoken alongside Dutch, English and Spanish.
Many stars were born and raised in the Netherlands before pledging to the island.
Willemstad's historic centre is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.