2026 World Cup: 42 of the 48 countries qualified, including Curaçao, the smallest nation ever to qualify

With some 156,000 inhabitants (the population of Grenoble) spread over 444km2 (four times the size of Paris), Curaçao, an autonomous island in the West Indies close to Venezuela but part of the Netherlands, became, after its 0-0 draw with Jamaica on 18/11/2025, the smallest and least populated country to qualify for a World Cup finals, the 23^rd edition of which will be held in Canada, Mexico and the United States (75% of the matches) from 11/06 to 19/07/2026.

Curaçao joins other countries such as Cape Verde, Jordan and Uzbekistan, who have also never taken part in this global competition, which will celebrate its centenary in 2030. As of 19/11/2025, 42 nations have already qualified:

• AFC: Japan, Iran, Uzbekistan, Jordan, South Korea, Australia, Qatar and Saudi Arabia (8 out of 8 places + Iraq and United Arab Emirates qualified for the play-off tournament).
• CAF : Morocco, Tunisia, Egypt, Algeria, Ghana, Cape Verde, South Africa, Senegal and Ivory Coast (9 out of 9 + DR Congo qualified for the Play-off Tournament).
• CONMEBOL: Argentina, Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, Paraguay and…