Nation dossier · Group E · In contention
Curaçao
Curaçao
Latest Curaçao 0–2 Ivory Coast · Group E
Title probability
0.0%
as of 2026-06-25
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
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
- 160caps
Eloy Room
Columbus Crew · Veteran captain between the posts
- 126caps
Calvin Raatsie
SC Cambuur · Agile Dutch-based shot-stopper
- 233caps
Roché Cijntje
SV Robinhood · Local league backup keeper
- 220caps
Sherel Floranus
Sparta Rotterdam · Overlapping right-back energy
- 315caps
Armando Obispo
PSV Eindhoven · Composed ball-playing centre-back
- 455caps
Cuco Martina
Volos NPS · Experienced versatile full-back
- 510caps
Livano Comenencia
NEC Nijmegen · Juventus-schooled utility defender
- 618caps
Rihairo Meulens
Almere City · Aerially dominant centre-half
- 1340caps
Jeremy de Nooijer
FC Eindhoven · Reliable senior defensive anchor
- 1512caps
Roshon van Eijma
NAC Breda · Energetic left-sided defender
- 168caps
Gianni dos Santos
De Graafschap · Tough-tackling cover option
- 714caps
Tahith Chong
Luton Town · Curaçao-born creative spark
- 850caps
Leandro Bacuna
Den Haag · Driving box-to-box leader
- 1045caps
Brandley Kuwas
Heracles Almelo · Mercurial set-piece specialist
- 1425caps
Juninho Bacuna
Birmingham City · Powerful pressing midfielder
- 1730caps
Roly Bonevacia
Western Sydney Wanderers · Tempo-setting deep playmaker
- 1822caps
Kenji Gorré
Nacional Madeira · Tricky attacking midfielder
- 1916caps
Jurich Carolina
Cambuur · Direct touchline winger
- 918caps
Jürgen Locadia
PEC Zwolle · Powerful target-man finisher
- 1135caps
Rangelo Janga
CFR Cluj · Clinical penalty-box poacher
- 209caps
Sontje Hansen
NEC Nijmegen · Pacey young wing threat
- 2120caps
Gervane Kastaneer
Riga FC · Explosive counter-attacking runner
- 227caps
Anthony van den Hurk
Telstar · Big aerial impact substitute
Model
as of 2026-06-25Exp. points
1.46
Proj. finish
39.0
Seed Elo
1500
Title-probability trajectory
Champion chance across the last 14 snapshots
Matches
History
2022
Did not qualify / 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.