A tiny island with a big dream: Curaçao reach the World Cup

This children’s article, A Tiny Island with a Big Dream: Curaçao Reach the World Cup, has been written for native English speakers and for learners of English as a second or foreign language. It can help children build vocabulary, learn about football history, and explore how a tiny Caribbean island achieved something extraordinary. Written by Mark Pulley, a teacher and writer who creates fun and informative news articles for English learners.

Curaçao make football history

The Caribbean island of Curaçao has become the smallest nation ever to qualify for a men’s World Cup. With a population of around 156,000 people, the island is far smaller than Iceland, who held the previous record when they reached the 2018 World Cup.

Curaçao secured their place after a tense 0–0 draw away to Jamaica. Jamaica needed a win to qualify, and they even thought they had earned a last-minute penalty. However, after checking the pitch-side monitor, the referee decided the foul never happened. The decision saved Curaçao’s World Cup dream.

For the players, staff, and fans, the final whistle felt like the start of a fairytale. Now they are heading to the biggest football tournament on the planet.

A coach who made the difference

Much of the credit has been given to their veteran coach, Dick Advocaat. The Dutch manager, now 78, will be the oldest head coach ever to appear at a World Cup.

Advocaat took the job at the start of 2024 after the team solved a long-running payment dispute with their football association. From the moment he arrived, he brought experience, confidence, and higher expectations.

A global team with family ties

Although Curaçao is small, its team has strong football connections. Many of the players were born in the Netherlands but have Curaçaoan parents or grandparents. This allowed them to represent the island while bringing experience from European leagues.

The squad includes footballers from clubs across Europe. One of the most important players is midfielder Juninho Bacuna, who has played in the Premier League and the Championship in England. His older brother Leandro is the national team captain.

Some players chose Curaçao because it gave them the chance to play international football with their families, something that meant as much as qualifying itself.

What this means for the World Cup

The 2026 World Cup will be the biggest ever, with 48 teams taking part. This has opened the door for several first-time qualifiers, including Cape Verde, Uzbekistan, Jordan, and now Curaçao.

Curaçao will join two other teams from their region, Haiti and Panama, at the tournament. For an island with fewer people than a small city, qualifying is a remarkable achievement and a proud moment in its sporting history.

Children and adults across the island celebrated late into the night, dreaming of what might come next. No matter how the team performs next summer, Curaçao have already made history.

Article vocabulary list

• Qualify: To earn a place in a competition by meeting the required results.
• Veteran: Someone with a long period of experience in a job or activity.
• Dispute: A serious disagreement or argument.
• Monitor: A small screen the referee uses to review decisions during a match.
• Tournament: A large competition involving many teams or players.
• Heritage: Family or cultural background passed down through generations.
• Region: An area of the world that includes several neighbouring countries.
• Campaign: A series of matches or events working towards one main goal.

Comprehension questions

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