Two tiny teams are about to rewrite World Cup history

Iceland once caused a stir when it became the smallest country in terms of population to participate in the World Cup. However, that record is in danger of being broken.

Iceland holds the record as the smallest country by population to ever qualify for the World Cup.

In the history of the World Cup, Iceland is the smallest country in terms of population (about 334,000 people in 2017) to have participated in the final round in 2018. However, this record is at risk of being broken by a "tiny team" of football from the Caribbean: Curaçao.

With a population of only about 156,000 people, Curaçao is getting closer to the 2026 World Cup dream, promising to create new miracle stories.

Curaçao, a former colony of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, has been making waves in CONCACAF qualifying. With an estimated population of just 156,115-169,000 (as of 2025), Curaçao has a chance to become the smallest nation ever to play at the World Cup if it qualifies for the United States, Canada and Mexico in 2026.

Curaçao currently have seven points from three games, leading Group B of CONCACAF’s final qualifying round, alongside Jamaica, Trinidad & Tobago and Bermuda. Unbeaten in the second qualifying round and led by veteran coach Dick Advocaat, the team plays intelligent football, using sharp counter-attacks.

If they finish top of their group in November, Curaçao will qualify automatically. Even second place would open the door to an inter-continental play-off. Such a feat would be a source of pride not only for this tiny island but for the entire Caribbean region.

Curacao is on the rise.

Meanwhile, across the ocean, Cape Verde (population 527,000-587,000) is also on the brink of history in the CAF regional qualifiers. The team nicknamed "Blue Sharks" is currently leading Group D with 20 points, 4 points ahead of Cameroon after a dramatic 3-3 draw with Libya on October 8.

A win over Eswatini on October 13 will see Cape Verde qualify for the World Cup for the first time, becoming the second smallest nation to do so, after Iceland. From last place in the AFCON qualifying group, Cape Verde’s journey is a testament to the bravery of a small island nation in the middle of the Atlantic.

With the expanded 48-team format of the 2026 World Cup, the opportunity for tiny teams like Curaçao and Cape Verde is bigger than ever. If both teams qualify, the tournament will witness unprecedented inspirational stories of small nations challenging football giants.

Source: https://znews.vn/hai-doi-ty-hon-sap-viet-lai-lich-su-world-cup-post1593320.html