Image credit: Getty Images. ByEmlyn Begley. BBC Sport reporter based in Houston. 5 hours ago. A breathtakingly picturesque small Caribbean island with strong Dutch roots, yet fiercely protective of its own identity, Curaçao has until now perhaps been best known for the blue liqueur that bears its name. But all that is about to change as the island prepares to make history by becoming the smallest country ever – by both area and population – to qualify for a World Cup. Smaller than the Isle of Man and home to just 158,000 people (fewer than many single UK towns and cities), it is not even a fully independent nation, existing as part of the Kingdom of the Netherlands. “It brings so much joy and pride to the island that you can’t describe it.” “The entire island is going blue,” said Curacao Football Federation (FFK) president Gilbert Martina in an interview with BBC Sport. Of their World Cup squad, only Tahith Chong was born on the island, while the remaining 25 players all come from mainland Netherlands. They have been drawn into a tough Group E alongside Germany—whom they face on Sunday at 18:00 BST—Ecuador, and Ivory Coast. Thousands of Blue Wave supporters are expected to attend the team’s World Cup debut in Houston, with some arriving on same-day charter flights from the island. “People always see us having fun and dancing.” We stand united as one. But as soon as the referee blows the whistle, there’s only one thing on our minds – getting a result,” captain Leandro Bacuna said in the pre-match news conference. In another historical footnote, on-again, off-again manager Dick Advocaat will become the oldest coach in World Cup history at the age of 76. Fifa World Cup 2026: What you need to know about Curacao.