How a tiny Caribbean nation plans to make noise as big World Cup underdog in KC
AI-generated summary reviewed by our newsroom.
- Curacao qualified for its first World Cup and will play in Kansas City on June 20.
- Federation leaders, coaches and diaspora players aim to advance from a four-team group.
- About 2,000 fans plan travel; federation stresses competitive intent over tourism.
Gilbert Martina was thrilled with the result, naturally. The national team he oversees as president of the Curacao Football Federation had just finished a 0-0 draw against Jamaica in Kingston.
That was when it hit him, like a blue wave.
“It took me some minutes to realize actually what had happened,” Martina said.
The outcome in November meant history was made. Curacao, for the first time, had qualified for the FIFA World Cup.
A few weeks later, the team known as the Blue Wave learned its schedule would include a match in Kansas City, on June 20 against Ecuador. That game is one of four group-stage contests scheduled to be played at Arrowhead Stadium, which will be known as Kansas City Stadium during this summer’s World Cup tournament.
Although its team is a World Cup newcomer, Curacao shares a soccer spirit with Argentina and Netherlands — two heavyweights of the sport, and two other teams that will be playing in Kansas City.
What separates Curacao is the size of its country and population. The island nation of 171 square miles, located about 40 miles north of Venezuela, is home to about 156,000 people. When Curacao takes the field for the first time in June, it will become the smallest nation whose team has competed in a World Cup.
Although Curacao will be an underdog against each of its group-stage opponents based on FIFA rankings — Curacao is 81st, below Germany (10), Ecuador (23) and Ivory Coast (37) — it won’t offer size as an excuse. From the 48-team field, 32 will advance to the knockout stage.
Curacao plans to be one of them.
“We are going to play football, play to show the world that Curacao is not at the World Cup just by luck,” Martina said.
The country of Curacao is an autonomous nation within the Kingdom of the Netherlands, gaining independence in 2010. Soccer had its moments there from the 1930s through the 1970s, with Curacao — competing as the Netherlands Antilles — recording two third-place finishes in the Concacaf Gold Cup in the 1960s.
U.S. sports fans likely are more familiar with Curacao’s baseball heritage. Andruw Jones, just elected to the Hall of Fame, and All-Star reliever Kenley Jansen are among the 17 Curacaoans who have played in the majors.
The Curacao soccer roster is mostly made up of Dutch natives, players who qualify for Curacao through dual nationality or through their parents or grandparents. The roster’s lone Curacaoan is Tahith Chong, a midfielder who plays club football for Sheffield United in the English League Championship.
“Most of them have been waiting, hoping for a call to play for the Netherlands,” Martina said. “Some have played for the Netherlands.”
Now they don’t have to suit up for the three-time World Cup runner-up to complete on the global stage.
Martina is a native of Curacao. His background is in business, but he added “author” to his credits with the just-released “Healthy Minds, Healthy Nation.” He became an adviser to the national team in 2002 and helped secure sponsorships to fund the soccer federation.
Martina, appointed manager in April 2025, has already had to deal with coaching turnover. Dick Advocaat, who has been a national team manager for the Netherlands, South Korea, Belgium and Russia, was named to lead Curacao in January 2024 and guided the team through World Cup qualifying. At 78, he would have become the oldest coach in World Cup history.
But Advocaat stepped down soon after qualifying, citing family reasons. He has been replaced by fellow Dutchman Fred Rutten.
The objective hasn’t changed. Curacao will play FIFA Series games against China and Australia later this month and friendlies against Scotland and Aruba before suiting up for its first World Cup opener. As many as 2,000 fans, more than 1 percent of the nation’s population, are expected to travel to the group-stage games.
Martina suggests those fans to pack for an extended stay.
“We’re not going to the World Cup just to be tourists and play three games,” he said. “We’re going to the World Cup to take points away from each of our opponents and qualify for the next round.”