Curacao makes history as smallest nation to qualify for world cup; Haiti and Panama also secure spots

Curacao became the smallest country ever to reach the FIFA World Cup on Tuesday, while Haiti booked their first return to the tournament in 52 years, and Panama secured another automatic qualification spot, Sport360NG reports.

The Caribbean island, with a population of just 156,000, held Jamaica to a 0-0 draw in Kingston, sealing their place in next year’s expanded 48-team World Cup in the United States, Canada, and Mexico. Haiti completed their own improbable campaign with a 2-0 win over Nicaragua, ironically securing the decisive victory in Curacao, where they have been forced to host home qualifiers due to political unrest in their homeland.

Panama rounded out the CONCACAF automatic qualifiers with a 3-0 home victory against El Salvador, ending Suriname’s hopes of direct qualification. Suriname, however, advanced to the playoff stage after a 3-1 defeat to Guatemala.

Curacao’s historic achievement came despite Dutch coach Dick Advocaat missing the match for personal reasons. Known as the ‘Blue Wave,’ Curacao topped Group B with 12 points from six games, finishing just ahead of Jamaica. The team surpasses Iceland, which held the previous record as the smallest nation to qualify in 2018 with a population of around 350,000.

Curacao’s players pose for a team photo before the start of the World Cup qualifier football match between Jamaica and Curacao at the National Stadium in Kingston, Jamaica on November 18, 2025. (Photo by Ricardo Makyn / AFP)

The final moments in Kingston were tense. Jamaica, coached by former England manager Steve McClaren, launched a relentless second-half attack, hitting the woodwork three times. Substitute Bailey-Tye Cadamarteri came agonizingly close with a header in the 87th minute. In stoppage time, a penalty was initially awarded to Jamaica after a challenge on Dujuan Richards, but after a VAR review, the decision was overturned, confirming Curacao’s historic qualification.

Meanwhile, Haiti’s 2-0 victory over Nicaragua, courtesy of goals from Louicius Don Deedson and Ruben Providence, coupled with Honduras’s 0-0 draw with Costa Rica, secured top spot in Group C with 11 points. Honduras finished second with nine points but narrowly missed out on the intercontinental playoff spot due to goal difference against Suriname.

Haiti will now make only their second World Cup appearance, their previous campaign dating back to 1974 when they exited in the first round following defeats to Italy, Poland, and Argentina.