Tuesday was a historic day in the world of football, as the tiny country of Curacao qualified for the 2026 FIFA World Cup. With a population of just 157,000, it has now become the world’s least populous nation to play in the World Cup. Earlier, this record was held by Iceland, whose population was about 330,000 in 2018.
A country with population less than Noida has qualified
This success is even more surprising in comparison to the big cities of India. The population of Noida is approximately 1 million, which is approximately 10 times that of Curaçao. Even Lajpat Nagar, a large area of Delhi, with a population of about 150,000, is equivalent to Curacao. The population of this entire country is equal to that of one area of Delhi. Nevertheless, Curaçao, ranked 82nd in the FIFA rankings, has achieved the feat of reaching the world’s biggest football stage.
Got a ticket for the exciting match against Jamaica
In the important match played in Kingston, Curacao held Jamaica to a goalless draw. The second half of the match was full of tension. Jamaica hit the post three times. Then, in the 87th minute, the ball hit the post again. Jamaica got a penalty chance in injury time, but VAR canceled it. The decision led to celebrations in the Curaçao dugout. The team secured its first World Cup berth by playing one of the most memorable draws in history.
Big upset in CONCACAF qualifiers
In other group matches, Panama defeated El Salvador 3–0 to book its second World Cup berth. Suriname’s 3–1 defeat to Guatemala prevented them from qualifying directly, but they advanced to the playoffs. Curacao will now await their group stage opponents. The drawing will take place on December 5 in Washington, DC.
India’s situation is still difficult
This success of Curacao raises many questions for India also. A small country like Curacao is making it to the World Cup, while India with a population of 1.35 billion has never qualified for the FIFA World Cup. Despite its small population, limited resources and little infrastructure, Curaçao has shown that ability, planning and confidence can surpass even larger countries.