Curacao's Roshon Van Eijma, in the air, fights for the ball with Jamaica's Gregory Leigh, right, and Jonathan Russell during a World Cup 2026 qualifying soccer match in Kingston, Jamaica, Tuesday, Nov. 18, 2025. (AP Photo/Collin Reid)
Suriname's Shaquille Pinas is consoled at the end of World Cup 2026 qualifying soccer match against Guatemala in Guatemala City, Tuesday, Nov. 18, 2025. (AP Photo/Moises Castillo)
KINGSTON, Jamaica (AP) ā CuraƧao salvaged a 0-0 draw with Jamaica on Tuesday to become the smallest nation by population to qualify for a World Cup and will be joined by CONCACAF sides Panama and Haiti which also booked their spots.
CuraƧao finished as the only undefeated nation in the tournament and finished atop of Group B with 12 points to advance to the World Cup for the first time in its history.
CuraƧao got the historic result it needed despite not having his coach . on the bench. The 78-year-old Advocaat missed the crucial match because he had to return to the Netherlands last weekend for family reasons.
Advocaat was at the helm of the Netherlands national team for three stints and managed South Korea, Belgium and Russia before taking the job with Curacao.
According to the Central Bureau of Statistics in CuraƧao, the country has a population of 156,115 persons as of last January. was the smallest country to reach the World Cup when it qualified for the tournament in Russia in 2018.
Panama advanced to its second World Cup after defeating El Salvador 3-0 on first-half goals from Cesar Blackman (17) and Erick Davis (45). Jose Luis Rodriguez (85) added a goal for the Panamanians, who have Russia 2018 as their only World Cup appearance.
Panama finished as the best team in Group A with 12 points while Suriname, which came into the last round leading the way on goal difference, lost 3-1 against Guatemala and finished in second place with nine points.
Haiti, , had a surprising campaign winning Group C over favorites Honduras and Costa Rica after beating Nicaragua 2-1.
Loicious Deedson opened the scoring in the ninth minute and Ruben Providence added a goal in the 45th. Haitiās only previous trip to the World Cup was in Germany in 1974.
The Haitians finished with 11 points while Honduras had nine and Costa Rica finished with seven.
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AP soccer:
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