Curacao Makes History, Secures World Cup Spot
In a remarkable turn of events, the tiny Caribbean island of Curacao etched its name in football history on Tuesday by becoming the smallest nation ever to qualify for a World Cup. The team achieved this extraordinary feat by battling to a gritty 0-0 draw against Jamaica in Kingston.
With a population of just 156,000, Curacao faced a relentless second-half onslaught from the Reggae Boyz but held firm to secure the draw they required to earn their place in the World Cup, set to take place in the United States, Canada, and Mexico next year.
The result capped off a fairytale qualification journey for the ‘Blue Wave’, who finished atop Group B with 12 points from six matches, narrowly outpacing Jamaica by a solitary point.
Curacao’s achievement is particularly noteworthy as they now hold the record for being the smallest nation to qualify for the global tournament, ahead of Iceland, which previously held the title in 2018 with a population of approximately 350,000.
In another exciting development, Scotland secured their World Cup berth for the first time since 1998 with a thrilling 4-2 victory over ten-man Denmark. The Scots dazzled a crowd in Glasgow with two dramatic stoppage-time goals. Substitute Kieran Tierney launched the comeback with a stunning long-range effort in the 93rd minute, quickly followed by fellow substitute Kenny McLean, who scored from the halfway line, sealing Scotland’s triumph and solidifying their position as Group C winners with 13 points.
“It sums up this squad,” remarked Scottish captain Andy Robertson. “We just keep going right to the end. We put the country through it, but I’m sure it’s worth it. We’re going to the World Cup.”
The match began with fireworks when Scott McTominay opened the scoring with a phenomenal overhead kick within just three minutes. However, Denmark equalized through Rasmus Hojlund’s penalty in the second half after a VAR check deemed a foul by Robertson. Shortly after, the Danish squad faced a setback as Rasmus Kristensen received a second yellow card.
Scotland initially reclaimed the lead thanks to Lawrence Shankland’s smart finish from a corner, but Denmark leveled once again, only for Tierney and McLean’s late heroics to secure a memorable victory.
Meanwhile, in Cardiff, Wales made a stunning statement by thrashing North Macedonia 7-1, as Harry Wilson netted a hat-trick. Although they hoped to clinch automatic qualification, they focused instead on securing home advantage for their upcoming World Cup play-off semi-final.
Wilson’s early penalty set the tone, and despite a brief response from North Macedonia, Brennan Johnson’s brilliant solo effort stifled their momentum. The rout continued with goals from Daniel James and two more from Wilson, along with a final score from substitute Nathan Broadhead—ensuring a jubilant atmosphere as the Welsh team turned their sights to the upcoming play-off draw.
In Spain, the national team continued their unbeaten run by drawing 2-2 with Turkey, thus solidifying their place in the World Cup. Dani Olmo kicked things off with an early goal, but Turkey responded courageously, becoming the first team to score against Spain in this qualification cycle. Mikel Oyarzabal’s equalizer ensured that Spain could walk away with confidence, despite some close calls where they narrowly missed further goals.
As the curtain fell on this round of European qualifying, nations including Austria, Belgium, and Switzerland also secured their spots for the World Cup, setting the stage for what promises to be an unforgettable tournament in 2026.
