The Guinness Book of Records has etched the Curacao national team into its folklore as the smallest nation by population to feature at the FIFA World Cup.
The record keepers presented Curacao a recognition placard expressing that it is delighted to bestow the accolade to the Island situated country with just over 156,115 people over their appearance at the global competition after they finished top of their CONCACAF third-round qualifying group unbeaten, with three wins and three draws, their eligibility confirmed following their draw with Jamaica on November 19, 2025.
”We were delighted to present Gilbert Martina, the President of the Curacao Football Federation, the certificate for the smallest country by population to qualify for the FIFA World Cup – 156,115 people,” the Guiness Book of Records wrote on its website on Tuesday.
In the competition proper which began on July 11, the national team was pummeled 7-1 in their opening game against Germany yesterday, in one of the worst defeats of the competition, however, the side, under the stewardship of Dutch coach and former Sunderland FC manager, Dick Advocat, but still remain the side with the accolade as disclosed by the record keepers.
The team are still in contention for a place in the next round with matches against African representatives, Ivory Coast and Ecuador still coming, where wins would put them in a positive position for contention in the knock-out stage.