Curacao became the smallest nation to qualify for the World Cup with their 0-0 draw with Jamaica in November 2025.
The island nation, whose population of 155,000 is smaller than that of Rochdale, and whose landmass is smaller than the Isle of Man, were ranked 90th in the world at the start of the qualifying campaign, and were ranked outside of the world's top 150 less than a decade ago.
They comfortably beat Iceland as the smallest nation to qualify for a World Cup.
Curacao cruised through their first qualifying group, beating Haiti, Saint Lucia, Aruba and Barbados to top Group C with a perfect record.
Then drawn alongside Jamaica, Trinidad and Tobago and Bermuda, Dick Advocaat's side would likely have been content with a World Cup play-off place, but their 2-0 win over Jamaica put them in pole position to win the group.
Heading into the final round of fixtures, Curacao knew that avoiding defeat in Jamaica would have been enough to top the group, and they did just that with a 0-0 draw.
Although Advocaat wasn't present at the game for personal reasons, he will become become the oldest manager in World Cup history next summer, when former Aston Villa man Leandro Bacuna leads the side out.
The point they needed was very nearly snatched away from them in stoppage time when a penalty was awarded to the hosts before VAR overruled the decision.
In failing to automatically qualify for the World Cup, Jamaica boss Steve McClaren left his post, meaning the side will be after a new boss to steer them through the play-offs.
Jamaica will face one New Caledonia in the semi-final and they will then face DR Congo in the final if they get through.
