Bangladesh covers an area of roughly 147,610 square kilometers, making it one of South Asia’s largest nations. In stark contrast, Curacao, a tiny Caribbean island nation, is just 444 square kilometers, 332 times smaller than Bangladesh and even three times smaller than the Dhaka district. Located off the coast of Venezuela, Curacao has a population of just over 150,000.
For the first time in its history, Curacao is on the brink of qualifying for the 2026 FIFA World Cup. If successful, it will become the smallest nation ever to participate in the tournament, surpassing Cape Verde, which covers 4,000 square kilometers.
In the CONCACAF qualifying rounds, Curacao has impressed with a dominating 7-0 victory over Bermuda last Friday. With 11 points from five matches, they currently top Group B. Their next and potentially decisive match is against second-placed Jamaica. Avoiding defeat in that game will secure their first-ever World Cup berth.
Small nations making a mark on the world stage is not new. In 2018, Iceland, with a population of just 350,000, qualified for the World Cup. Later, Cape Verde became the second smallest country by population and the smallest by land area to qualify, with fewer than 525,000 residents. Now, Curacao is set to make history as the smallest nation in both land area and population to play at the World Cup.
Curacao needs just one more point in the qualifiers. A defeat against Jamaica would shatter their dream, making the upcoming match crucial for this tiny Caribbean nation. Every goal, every play will matter in this historic push.