Curaçao has announced its full 26-player squad for the 2026 FIFA World Cup. It’s the country’s debut at a FIFA World Cup. This marks Curaçao’s historic first World Cup qualification, achieving the milestone on their fourth attempt.
Head coach Dick Advocaat announced the full squad earlier today. Just like the head coach, most of the squad were born in the Netherlands. Curaçao is a constituent, autonomous country within the Kingdom of the Netherlands. Team captain Leandro Bacuna anchors the squad; he and veteran goalkeeper Eloy Room are the country’s most-capped players, with 70 caps each. Other key players are Livano Comenencia, Juninho Bacuna, Kenji Gorré, and Gervane Kastaneer.
Full Squad Curaçao For The 2026 FIFA World Cup
Goalkeepers: Tyrick Bodak (Telstar), Trevor Doornbusch (VVV-Venlo), Eloy Room (Miami FC)
Defenders: Riechedly Bazoer (Konyaspor), Joshua Brenet (Kayserispor), Roshon van Eijma (RKC Waalwijk), Sherel Floranus (PEC Zwolle), Deveron Fonville (NEC Nijmegen), Juriën Gaari (Abha), Armando Obispo (PSV Eindhoven), Shurandy Sambo (Sparta Rotterdam)
Midfielders: Juninho Bacuna (FC Volendam), Leandro Bacuna (Iğdır FK), Livano Comenencia (FC Zürich), Kevin Felida (FC Den Bosch), Ar’jany Martha (Rotherham United), Tyrese Noslin (Telstar), Godfried Roemeratoe (RKC Waalwijk)
Forwards: Jeremy Antonisse (AE Kifisia), Tahith Chong (Sheffield United), Kenji Gorré (Maccabi Haifa), Sontje Hansen (Middlesbrough), Gervane Kastaneer (Terengganu FC), Brandley Kuwas (FC Volendam), Jürgen Locadia (Miami FC), Jearl Margaritha (SK Beveren)
Qualification For The 2026 FIFA World Cup
Curaçao started its campaign in a group with Haiti, Saint Lucia, Barbados, and Aruba. Curaçao won all four match-ups and advanced to the third round of qualification. The Curaçaoans were drawn in a group with Jamaica, Trinidad and Tobago, and Bermuda. The Blue Wave started with a goalless draw in Trinidad and Tobago. After that, they beat Bermuda, but one of the key victories was the match in Willemstad against Jamaica. Despite Jamaica entering as favorites, Curaçao secured a 2-0 victory with goals from Livano Comenencia and Kenji Gorré.
Curaçao drew again, this time at home against Trinidad and Tobago. Jamaica took an easy 4-0 victory at home against Bermuda and took over first place from Curaçao. In the second-to-last group stage fixture, Curaçao thrashed Bermuda, while Jamaica suffered heartbreak from a late Trinidad and Tobago equalizer. Because of that late equalizer, Curaçao knew they had to draw in Jamaica to clinch their first-ever spot at the FIFA World Cup. In a nerve-wracking contest on November 18 in Kingston, Curaçao was able to keep the Jamaicans at 0-0. A late injury-time penalty kick for Jamaica was canceled after a VAR review. Curaçao clinched the hard-fought ticket for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
2026 FIFA World Cup
Curaçao is part of Group E. The Curaçaoans open their World Cup on June 14 in Houston, Texas, where they will take on four-time champions Germany. Six days later, they head to Kansas City, Missouri, to take on Ecuador. For their final group stage match, they have to travel back to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, to take on the Ivory Coast on June 25. The two group winners and the eight best third-placed teams from each group will advance to the next stage.
Curaçao Schedule
- June 14 – Germany (1 pm EST)
- June 20 – Ecuador (8 pm EST)
- June 25 – Ivory Coast (4 pm EST)
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