Dutch manager who backflipped on Australian Socceroos job on path to make World Cup history
The small Caribbean island nation of Curacao has made football history after recording a draw against Jamaica to secure direct qualification into the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
With a population of roughly 150,000, just shy of the population of Cairns, Curacao made a statement throughout the qualifying stages, sitting first in their World Cup qualifying group up until their match against Jamaica on Wednesday.
Curacao survived an electric attacking effort from Jamaica to surpass Iceland as the smallest ever country by population to qualify for the World Cup.
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Curacao players celebrate after securing a spot in the World Cup draw. Twitter
“A blue wave is heading to the World Cup,” a commentator on CBS Sports said.
Cape Verde made history just a month ago when they secured direct qualification for next year’s tournament, being then the second-smallest country by population, behind Iceland, to qualify.
It is a remarkable achievement for Curacao to be in the World Cup, given that 10 years ago they were 150th on the world rankings. Now, they are 82nd.
Located just off the coast of Venezuela and a constituent country of the Netherlands, Curacao is known for its vibrant coral reefs and beaches.
The island is so small that many football fans would be unfamiliar with an individual who was born in the nation, aside from any member of the current national team.
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In fact, the country is not even represented at the Olympic Games as it is not a sovereign nation. Therefore, its athletes have to compete as Independent Olympic athletes or represent the Netherlands.
But one man who would be familiar to some Australian fans is the team’s head coach, who was linked with the Socceroos job almost 20 years ago.
Curacao coach Dick Advocaat during a training session. ANP via Getty Images
Dick Advocaat, head coach of Curacao, backflipped on his contract to become the next Socceroos coach in 2007 to remain at club level with Zenit St Petersburg in Russia.
That contract saga unfolded just two months out from the first match of the World Cup qualifiers at the time, leaving Australia without a head coach.
At the time, Advocaat declared that he was simply offered a deal too good to turn down with the Russian club team, which ultimately led him to renege on the Socceroos.
Fellow Dutch manager Pim Verbeek then took over the Socceroos.
Advocaat, 78, was appointed head coach of the Curacao national team last January, but was not present during Wednesday’s match to watch the players make history.
As per a statement from the team, Advocaat was forced to leave the team to return home to the Netherlands due to family reasons.
Curacao players seen in action. Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
See which nations have qualified for the 2026 FIFA World Cup below:
CONCACAF [North / Central America and the Caribbean]
Canada, Mexico, United States [host nations], Curacao, Haiti and Panama.
UEFA [Europe]
England, France, Croatia, Austria, Belgium, Germany, Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Scotland, Spain and Switzerland.
CONMEBOL [South America]
Argentina, Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, Paraguay and Uruguay.
CAF [Africa]
Algeria, Cape Verde, Egypt, Ghana, Ivory Coast, Morocco, Senegal, South Africa and Tunisia.
AFC [Asia]
Japan, Australia, Iran, Jordan, Korea Republic, Uzbekistan, Qatar and Saudi Arabia.
OFC [Oceania]
New Zealand.
There are six spots still open, which will be determined by sudden-death playoffs.
