One compelling feature of World Cup qualification is that population size does not guarantee a place in the Finals.
A tendency to root for the underdog means many football fans take great pleasure in watching the smaller nations defy expectations, and we've compiled a list of the smallest countries - measured by population at the time of their qualification - to reach the World Cup.
Curacao
Population: 150,000
In November 2025, Curacao became the smallest nation to ever qualify for the World Cup after drawing with Steve McClaren's Jamaica.
78-year-old Dick Advocaat will become the oldest coach at a World Cup after leading his side to the finals on an historic day for the tiny Caribbean island.
With a population of just over 150,000 people, Curacao's recent improvements have seen them rise from 150th to 82nd in the FIFA world rankings over the last decade.
Iceland
Population: 340,000
Two years after they famously conquered England and reached the quarter-finals of Euro 2016 on their major tournament debut, Iceland booked their place at the 2018 World Cup in Russia after topping a difficult qualifying group which contained several European heavy-hitters including Croatia, Ukraine and Turkey.
As the smallest nation to clinch a World Cup berth at the time, Iceland drew with Argentina in their opening match but defeats to Nigeria and eventual runners-up Croatia condemned Heimir Hallgrímsson's men to elimination in the group stage.
Cape Verde
Population: 528,000
Opposing the might of Cameroon in Group D of CAF qualification, Cape Verde lost just one of their 10 matches to secure a place at the 2026 World Cup and qualify for the Finals for the very first time.
The 4,000m square kilometre island might be an increasingly popular destination for British holidaymakers, but the national team has evolved exponentially this century and has become an increasingly prominent side on the continent with two quarter-final appearances at the Africa Cup of Nations in the last 12 years.
Trinidad & Tobago
Population: 1,300,000
Recalling Dwight Yorke to propel their qualification charge before defeating Bahrain in an intercontinental play-off, Trinidad & Tobago qualified for the 2006 World Cup in Germany.
Grouped with Sweden, Paraguay and England, the Caribbean nation held Sweden to a goalless draw in their first-ever World Cup fixture but back-to-back 2-0 defeats to England and Paraguay saw them finish bottom of Group B.
Northern Ireland
Population: 1,400,000
Northern Ireland have qualified for three World Cup finals; 1958, 1982 and 1986.
The Green and White Army progressed to the quarter-finals in the 1958 edition, where they defeated Czechoslovakia and drew with Germany before they were comprehensively beaten by France in the last eight.
Northern Ireland haven't reached the World Cup finals since 1986, although they were agonisingly close to reaching the 2018 tournament as they suffered a play-off defeat to Switzerland.
Kuwait
Population: 1,500,000
Kuwait were one of the beneficiaries of an expanded tournament in 1982 as Spain hosted 24 teams, which included more participants from Africa and Asia.
The 1980 Asian Cup winners were dealt a tough hand by drawing England, France and Czechoslovakia, but they recorded a point in their opening match against the Czechs when Faisal Ali Al-Dakhil netted an equaliser in Valladolid.
In the next match against France, Kuwait's Prince Fahad famously intervened during the match to get a French goal ruled out, but Kuwait eventually lost the match 4-1 and were eliminated by England four days later.
Slovenia
Population: 1,900,000
Formerly a member of Yugoslavia, Slovenia did not play their first official match until 1992, but they only had to wait 10 years for their first World Cup finals appearance as an independent country when they qualified for the 2002 edition in South Korea and Japan.
They lost all three matches in 2002, but were more successful on their return in 2010, securing their first World Cup finals victory with a 1-0 win over Algeria.
United Arab Emirates
Population: 1,900,000
The United Arab Emirates qualified for the 1990 World Cup in Italy with the promise of a Rolls-Royce for every player who scored at the tournament.
Ali Thani Jumaa and Khalid Ismail may have got their hands on a luxury car, but UAE crashed out of the tournament following comprehensive defeats to Colombia, West Germany and Yugoslavia.
