Curaçao
156,000 people — the smallest nation EVER at a World Cup. For one moment they were tied with Germany.
Team rating
- Attack66
- Midfield66
- Defense68
Next matches
- Next upvs EcuadorArrowhead Stadium, Kansas CityJun 20
- vs Ivory CoastLincoln Financial Field, PhiladelphiaJun 25
The read
Curaçao is a Caribbean island of roughly 156,000 people — the smallest nation by BOTH population and land area ever to reach a World Cup, breaking Iceland's record. An autonomous country inside the Kingdom of the Netherlands, they built their team by recruiting Dutch-raised players with Curaçaoan roots. They lost 7-1 to Germany, but for one stunning moment were tied 1-1, and their fans cried tears of joy anyway.
The fan’s readAn island of 156,000 — the smallest nation EVER at a World Cup — whose fans cried tears of joy through a 7-1 loss. For one stunning moment they were tied with Germany. Root for the purest David there is.
Live storylines
- Curaçao — the smallest nation that ever qualified
A Caribbean island of ~156,000 people — the smallest nation BY POPULATION ever to reach a World Cup, breaking Iceland's record — built from the Dutch diaspora and coached by 78-year-old journeyman Dick Advocaat. Just being here is the story.
Reality bit hard: lost 7-1 to Germany on debut (June 14) — but scored their historic first-ever World Cup goal (Comenencia). Bottom of Group E. The dream now is one more goal, one more moment.
The cast
- Dick AdvocaatAt 78, the oldest manager in World Cup history — and this is his third World Cup as a coach.manager
- Livano Comenencia ★A midfielder writing history for the smallest nation ever at a World Cup.ClubFC Zürich
- Leandro BacunaCuraçao's elder statesman — the experienced head holding the fairytale together.ClubIğdır FK
- Juninho BacunaPlays alongside his own brother for the smallest nation at the World Cup.FC Volendam
