Curaçao scored its first goal in the World Cup (Photo: PTI)
Curacao, FIFA World Cup 2026: Curaçao has created history as soon as it entered the field for the FIFA World Cup 2026. He scored his first goal in the history of the World Cup in the very first match played against Germany. This was also Curaçao’s debut match in the FIFA World Cup. Meaning, this country had never played the FIFA World Cup before. In such a situation, his goal against a strong team like Germany was historic. However, in the end, Germany won the match played in Group E by a huge margin of 7-1.
Curaçao, a country with a population of 1.5 lakhs
Curaçao, which is playing in the FIFA World Cup 2026, is the smallest country, which falls in the Caribbean Islands. The population of this country is just over one and a half lakh. Curaçao is such a small country that it is said that its journey can be completed in 50 minutes.
Neither players nor coaches of their country
One special thing about the team of Curaçao, which is playing in the FIFA World Cup for the first time, is that all the players except one are from the Netherlands. Tahit Chong is the only player present in it, who was born in Curaçao. However, later he also moved to the Netherlands. He grew up in Rotterdam and has also played football for the Netherlands Under-21 team.
The players and even the coach of the Curaçao team are not from their own country. His coach Dick Advocaat also comes from the Netherlands. Dick Advocaat had to leave the post of coach of the Curaçao team due to his daughter’s deteriorating health. But, he returned again in May and fulfilled the team’s dream of playing in the FIFA World Cup as a coach. This was the reason why he shed tears before his debut match against Germany. The 78-year-old Advocaat is also the oldest manager in the history of the FIFA World Cup.
Why are Curaçao’s team mostly players from Netherlands?
Curaçao has been under the Kingdom of the Netherlands since 2010, which is why there is influence on the team of this country. Most of its players are from Netherlands. Curaçao team player Juninho Bacuna clearly admitted that he knew that he had no chance of playing for the Netherlands, that is why he chose Curaçao.
Had made headlines by entering the World Cup in a school bus
The Curaçao team entered the FIFA World Cup in an old school bus, which did not even have a proper window.
What will be the future result for the Curaçao team in the FIFA World Cup is a matter for later. But, he has made his entry through school bus memorable forever.
