Archive · 20 Nov 2025
Curaçao, Haiti, and Panama Qualify for FIFA World Cup 2026
Three Caribbean countries, Curaçao, Haiti, and Panama, have qualified for the FIFA World Cup 2026.
Curaçao is the smallest country to ever qualify for the World Cup.
Haiti is returning after 52 years, and Panama secured their spot with a win.
Suriname will play in the playoffs.
The World Cup is expanding to 48 teams this time.
Curaçao qualifies for the World Cup for the first time, becoming the smallest country by population to do so.
Haiti returns to the World Cup after 52 years with a win over Nicaragua.
Panama secures automatic qualification with a win over El Salvador.
Suriname misses out on automatic qualification but advances to the playoffs.
The 2026 World Cup will feature 48 teams.
- Who
- Curaçao, Haiti, Panama, Suriname
- What
- qualified for the FIFA World Cup 2026
- When
- Tuesday, March 28, 2023
- Where
- Kingston (Jamaica), Curaçao, Panama City (Panama), Guatemala City (Guatemala)
- Why
- To participate in the FIFA World Cup 2026
Smaller Nations
Larger Nations
Qualification
Smaller Nations
Smaller nations like Curaçao (population 156,115) can qualify for the World Cup.
Larger Nations
Larger nations have more resources and players to draw from.
- Population of Curaçao
- 156,115
- Last World Cup appearance for Haiti
- 1974
- Number of teams in the 2026 World Cup
- 48
- Haiti's home for qualifiers
- Curacao
- Suriname's qualification status
- Playoffs
Sources
Caribbean Curacao scripts history with FIFA World Cup 2026 spot, Haiti and Panama also through
The Smallest Nation To Qualify For FIFA World Cup
Curaçao Makes History as Smallest Nation by Population to Qualify for FIFA World Cup
Curacao becomes smallest country to qualify for football World Cup as Haiti and Panama join it
Curacao Script FIFA WC History! Break Iceland’s Record With Fairytale World Cup Qualification
FIFA World Cup 2026 Play-offs: Format, teams qualified, dates - all you need to know
Haiti qualifies for FIFA World Cup despite coach never being there
How Curacao, an island with a population of 1.5 lakh, are headed to the FIFA World Cup
How old is too old? At 78 years of age, Dutch coach Dick Advocaat set to take tiny Curacao to their maiden World Cup
