The Smallest Nation to Reach the World Cup: Curaçao, the Island of "No Impossible," Breaks the Record

The Curaçao national team achieved a historic milestone by qualifying for the 2026 FIFA World Cup finals, making it the smallest nation ever by population size to secure a spot in the tournament.

Details of the Record Achievement

• Island Status: Curaçao is an island in the Caribbean region, part of the Kingdom of the Netherlands.

• Population: Curaçao's population is only about 156,000 inhabitants, making it the least populated country to qualify for the World Cup.

• Qualification: Curaçao's qualification came after topping their group in the qualifiers, following a tense goalless draw against Jamaica, which was enough to secure their direct qualification.

Breaking the World Record

By qualifying, Curaçao broke the previous record held by Iceland, becoming the smallest nation by population to reach the World Cup:

Country	Approximate Population	World Cup	Rank
Curaçao	156 Thousand Inhabitants	2026	Smallest Ever
Iceland	340 Thousand Inhabitants	2018 (Russia)	Previous Record Holder
Cape Verde	525 Thousand Inhabitants	2026	Third Smallest Nation