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Curaçao national football team

The Curaçao national football team (; ) represents Curaçao in men's international football, it is controlled by the Federashon Futbòl Kòrsou.

Following a constitutional change that allowed its predecessor, the Colony of Curaçao and Dependencies, to become a unified constituent country consisting of several island territories as the Netherlands Antilles and its dissolution in 2010, Curaçao has played under a new constitutional status as a separate constituent country since 2011.

Both FIFA and CONCACAF recognize the Curaçao national team as the direct successor of the dependant Territory of Curaçao (1921–1958) and the Netherlands Antilles (1958–2010).

In November 2025, they topped their qualifying group and qualified for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, becoming the smallest nation by both population and area to qualify for the tournament. Curaçao became the first non-sovereign national team from the Americas to qualify for the FIFA World Cup, and the sixth overall, after England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland (which are constituent countries of the United Kingdom and not independent countries), and the Dutch East Indies, a Dutch colony that competed in the 1938 tournament.

History

The first national football team to bear the name Curaçao was the Territory of Curaçao national football team, which made its debut in 1924 in an away match against neighboring Aruba, a match which the Territory of Curaçao won four to nil.

In December 1954, the territory of Curaçao became the Netherlands Antilles, and following a constitutional change the Netherlands Antilles were designated a country within the Kingdom of the Netherlands, which included the islands of Aruba, Bonaire, Saba, Sint Eustatius and Sint Maarten. The name of the Curaçao team changed to Netherlands Antilles national team, representing all six islands.

In 1986, Aruba became a country within the Kingdom in its own right, with its own Aruba national team and subsequently Aruban players no longer represented the Netherlands Antilles.

On 10 October 2010, the Netherlands Antilles were dissolved, and Curaçao and Sint Maarten became countries in their own right, while Bonaire, Saba and Sint Eustatius became part of the Netherlands proper. Although not a sovereign state, Curaçao (the largest island territory in the Netherlands Antilles) appeared on the FIFA member list in March 2011, as successor of the Netherlands Antilles.

As well as taking on the Netherlands Antilles' FIFA membership, Curaçao was recognised as the direct successor of the former (similarly to how Serbia is regarded the direct successor of Yugoslavia, and Russia for the Soviet Union), and took on its historical records and FIFA ranking.

They played their first match as the newly formed Curaçao national team on 20 August 2011 against Dominican Republic at the Estadio Panamericano, with the match ending in a 1–0 loss for Curaçao.

During the CONCACAF Qualification for the 2018 FIFA World Cup, Curaçao achieved a major feat when they defeated Cuba 1–1 with the away goals rule.

CONCACAF Gold Cup debut

After a strong qualification campaign, Curaçao defeated host Martinique in the semi-finals of the 2017 edition of the Caribbean Cup with the score of 2–1. They met defending champions and six-time winners, Jamaica. Curaçao won their first ever Caribbean Cup by defeating Jamaica, again with the scoreline of 2–1 which see Curaçao qualified to their first ever CONCACAF Gold Cup. Curaçao was then drawn in Group C in the 2017 CONCACAF Gold Cup alongside Jamaica, El Salvador and Mexico but unfortunately, lost all of their group stage matches.

In the next edition of the 2019 CONCACAF Gold Cup, Curaçao was then drawn in Group C alongside El Salvador, Jamaica and Honduras. On 21 June 2019, Curaçao got their first win in the CONCACAF Gold Cup where Leandro Bacuna scored in a 1–0 win over Honduras. With a much needed win to qualified to the next round, Juriën Gaari scored a stoppage time goal against Jamaica in the last group stage fixtures which saw Curaçao finishing as runners-up in the group stage thus qualifying to the knockout stage. In the quarter-finals, Curaçao then bowed out from the tournament after losing to United States.

FIFA World Cup debut

In November 2025, during the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualification, Curaçao drew 0–0 against Jamaica, making Curaçao the smallest nation by both population and area (only five weeks after Cape Verde had broken the area record) ever to qualify for the FIFA World Cup in history. Their manager, Dick Advocaat, would have become the oldest manager in history to coach a team the during the FIFA World Cup. On 23 February 2026, Advocaat would resign as Curaçao's manager due to personal reasons regarding the health of his daughter. Subsequently, Fred Rutten was appointed as head coach ahead of the World Cup.

Team image

Kit sponsorship

Results and fixtures

The following is a list of match results in the last 12 months, as well as any future matches that have been scheduled.

2025

2026

Coaching staff

Coaching history

Caretaker manager are listed in italics.

Players

Notes:
  • Caps and goals do not include matches played for the former Netherlands Antilles, but solely appearances for the thereout subsequent country of Curaçao.

Current squad

The following players were called up for the 2026 FIFA Series matches against China and Australia on 27 and 31 March 2026; respectively. <br>Caps and goals as of 31 March 2026, after the match against Australia.

Recent call-ups

The following players have been called up for the team in the last twelve months.

<sup>RET</sup> = Player retired from the national team.<br /> <sup>SUS</sup> = Player is serving suspension.<br /> <sup>INJ</sup> = Player withdrew from the squad due to an injury.<br /> <sup>PRE</sup> = Preliminary squad.<br /> <sup>WD</sup> = Player withdrew from the squad due to non-injury issue.<br />

Player records

Players in bold are still active with Curaçao.

Most appearances

Top goalscorers

Competitive record

All competitive matches played from 1921 to 1958 were contested as the Territory of Curaçao (comprising all six islands of the Netherlands Antilles). From 1958 to 2010 all matches were contested as the Netherlands Antilles, successor of the Territory of Curaçao, (still comprising six islands until 1986, when Aruba seceded). All competitive fixtures after 2010 were contested by Curaçao, which solely consists of the island nation itself. Under the newly formed governing body, Curaçao have so far only competed in 2014, 2018 and 2022 FIFA World Cup qualification, 2012 Caribbean Cup qualification, the 2014 and 2017 Caribbean Cup, the 2017 CONCACAF Gold Cup, 2019 CONCACAF Gold Cup, and the ABCS Tournament.

FIFA World Cup

*Draws include knockout matches decided via penalty shoot-out.

CONCACAF Gold Cup

*Draws include knockout matches decided via penalty shoot-out.

CONCACAF Nations League

*Draws include knockout matches decided via penalty shoot-out.

CFU Caribbean Cup

*Draws include knockout matches decided via penalty shoot-out.

ABCS Tournament

*Draws include knockout matches decided on penalty kicks.

All-time record against other nations

As of 27 March 2026

Curaçao (2011–present)

The following matches were played as Curaçao (from 18 August 2011 until present)

Team records

Wins

Largest win :
  • 10–0 vs on 10 September 2018
Largest win at the CONCACAF Gold Cup :
Largest win at the CONCACAF Championship finals :
Largest win at the Caribbean Cup finals :
Largest win at the ABCS Tournament :

Draws

Highest scoring draw
Highest scoring draw at the ABCS Tournament :
Highest scoring draw at the CONCACAF Gold Cup :

Defeats

Largest defeat:
  • 7–0 vs Argentina on 28 March 2023, Friendly
Largest defeat at the CONCACAF Gold Cup : 0–2 vs on 9 July 2017, 2017 CONCACAF Gold Cup
Largest defeat at the Caribbean Cup finals :
Largest defeat at the ABCS Tournament :

Honours

Continental

Regional

Friendly

Summary

Only official honours are included, according to FIFA statutes (competitions organized/recognized by FIFA or an affiliated confederation).

Notes:
  1. Honours won as .
  2. Honours won as .
  3. Official regional competition organized by CCCF. It was a predecessor confederation of CONCACAF, affiliated with FIFA as the former governing body of football in Central America and Caribbean, from 1938 to 1961.

See also

References

External links