Facing Germany, the Curaçao team played at the state-of-the-art NRG Stadium, which was equipped with air conditioning throughout the venue—a luxury most players could only dream of. Making their FIFA World Cup debut, the small island nation of Curaçao scored their first-ever goal against the formidable four-time world champions Germany. Despite losing the match by a wide margin of 7–1, Curaçao’s players and supporters celebrated this historic goal exuberantly. Under the guidance of 78-year-old coach Dick Advocaat, the oldest coach in World Cup history, Curaçao overcame numerous financial and administrative challenges to reach this milestone in their World Cup journey. The report is dated 1 Ashar, Kathmandu.
In an old school bus without windows, local music played as passengers rode along, tapping hands on the bus exterior to the rhythm. On board were Curaçao’s players traveling to the USA to participate in their first FIFA World Cup. Despite the humble transportation, the players exhibited a down-to-earth and approachable demeanor. Curaçao, a small Caribbean island nation established only in 2010, has a population of approximately 158,000 and covers an area of 171 square miles. The players, however, showed little concern for these facts.
On Sunday night, Curaçao faced four-time World Cup winners Germany in its opening match. Germany took an early lead, but in the 21st minute, Curaçao’s Livano Comenencia stunned recently retired goalkeeper Manuel Neuer by scoring an equalizer, leveling the score at 1-1. Following the goal, Curaçao’s players sprinted towards the corner of the pitch in celebration. Coach Dick Advocaat raised both hands triumphantly along the touchline, while fans donned in blue jerseys embraced each other and danced joyfully behind the dugout. These scenes clearly showed the importance of this goal for Curaçao. It was the nation’s first-ever World Cup goal. Scoring against Germany in their debut match was no small feat, earning Curaçao the rare achievement of their first participation, first match, and first goal all at once. This brought tremendous joy to players and fans alike.
The game, held in Houston, Texas, saw Germany take control 38 minutes in. Subsequently, Germany scored multiple goals to dominate the match, ultimately securing a 7-1 victory. Despite the heavy defeat, the enthusiasm of Curaçao’s fans during their first-ever World Cup match was unparalleled. They celebrated with elation, momentarily forgetting the lopsided score. Prior to the tournament, Curaçao’s players faced administrative chaos and numerous challenges, having to pay for their own airfares and hotel accommodations. The training pitches were often not in ideal condition. Yet, against Germany, they competed in the ultra-modern, air-conditioned NRG Stadium—an experience that was once just a dream for many players.
“We faced many difficulties before the World Cup. The pitches were not always optimal, travel was problematic, and hotel bookings were frequently canceled,” said Comenencia in an interview. At 78, Advocaat is the oldest coach in World Cup history. He was seen wiping away tears before the match began. After the game, Advocaat remarked, “Even with the 7-1 result, our fans’ happiness and enthusiasm were outstanding. This is no shame; we can still be proud. We have two more matches remaining, and different results are possible. The players will not be discouraged. Playing at this level is a significant achievement for all of us.”
Curaçao, which started playing qualifiers only 12 years ago, holds the distinction of being the smallest nation to qualify for the World Cup. They achieved an impressive performance in the qualifiers with 3 wins and 3 draws, accumulating 12 points in 6 matches. After drawing with Jamaica in the final CONCACAF qualifying match, Curaçao secured its World Cup berth. Having succeeded as winners of Group B in the third qualifying stage, Curaçao first participated in FIFA World Cup qualifiers in 2014 as the successor to the Netherlands Antilles. In 2022, they were eliminated in the second round after a 2-1 loss to Panama. This time, they seized the opportunity and successfully qualified. In World Cup Group E, Curaçao will face Ecuador in their second group match and Ivory Coast in their third.
Before 2010, the islands of Aruba, Bonaire, Saba, Sint Eustatius, and Sint Maarten were represented by the Netherlands Antilles national team. After that entity’s dissolution, Curaçao inherited the FIFA membership and took over the 151st world ranking. Curaçao’s first official match was on August 18, 2011, against the Dominican Republic, which they lost 1-0. Their first victory came on November 11, 2011, with a 3-0 win over the US Virgin Islands.
Former Ajax and Barcelona striker Patrick Kluivert served as head coach from 2015 to 2016 and as interim coach in 2021. Additionally, Gus Hiddink, former manager of PSV, Real Madrid, and Chelsea, led the team from August 2020 to September 2021. Dick Advocaat, who has coached the Netherlands national team three times, currently leads Curaçao. He previously resigned due to caring for his ill daughter but returned to the role after her health improved.
