Tiny Curacao and strife-torn Haiti close to World Cup qualification

CAPE TOWN – Curacao could become the smallest country to compete at the World Cup, conflict-torn Haiti may defy the odds and another small nation Suriname has a chance to qualify for the first time when the Concacaf qualifiers conclude on Nov 18 (Nov 19 morning, Singapore time).

But there are four other countries – Costa Rica, Honduras, Jamaica and Panama – also in the running for the three automatic berths reserved at the expanded 48-nation 2026 Finals for teams from the North, Central America and Caribbean confederation.

Each of the three group winners advance to the tournament in the United States, Canada and Mexico in June 2026, while the two best-ranked runners-up will go into the inter-confederation play-offs in March when two more World Cup places will be decided.

Curacao, a self-governing part of the Netherlands with a population of just over 150,000, will replace Iceland as the smallest country to qualify for a World Cup if they avoid defeat in Jamaica.

But they will have to do so without veteran coach Dick Advocaat, who returned to the Netherlands at the weekend for family reasons and will miss the game.

The 78-year-old, who has coached seven other national teams in a long career, arrived with the team in Kingston but then had to leave almost immediately.

A statement from Advocaat said: “It’s a very difficult decision to have to leave the boys here. I had to make this decision with a heavy heart, but family is more important than football. From the Netherlands, I will stay in close contact with the staff and I have complete confidence in this group of players.”

Goalkeeper Eloy Room, who is among 22 Dutch-born footballers in the Curacao squad, told Dutch NOS television: “It’s bad news for us, but we understand that family is always a priority.”

“We started this all together and now we want to finish it together,” added captain Leandro Bacuna.

“The coach doesn’t have to worry – we will give everything against Jamaica.”

Advocaat has built a team on the back of Dutch-based professionals with Antillean roots. A 7-0 win away over Bermuda in their penultimate Group B clash on Nov 13 saw Curacao take over top place after Jamaica drew at Trinidad and Tobago, leaving the Reggae Boyz needing a home win on Nov 18 to qualify.

“We will try to at least put some positivity and a smile on people’s faces in the midst of adversity because there is nothing better than a Jamaican smile,” said English coach Steve McClaren, hoping qualification can help temper the impact of the recent devastation across Jamaica from Hurricane Melissa.

Suriname conclude their Group A campaign away at already-eliminated Guatemala on Nov 18 and, with a plus-five goal difference compared to plus-two for Panama, should be assured of a World Cup place with an away win.

But if Panama manage a goal deluge at home to El Salvador at the same time, they could yet finish top even if Suriname win.

Like Curacao, Suriname, with a population of around 650,000, have used their Dutch connections to bolster their squad. “I’m enjoying the level we’ve reached,” said their coach Stanley Menzo, the former Dutch national team and Ajax Amsterdam goalkeeper.

But while both Curacao and Suriname could be breaking new ground, it compares little with the potential fairy-tale success of Haiti, whose only previous World Cup appearance in 1974 saw them concede 14 goals in three games.

Gang warfare has left much of the island nation ungovernable. With armed gangs in control of most of the capital Port-au-Prince, including the national stadium, they have been forced to play home games in Group C in Curacao.

A 1-0 win there on Nov 13 against Costa Rica has handed Haiti a golden chance to qualify even if Honduras lead them on goal difference.

Honduras are away to Costa Rica, however, in their last game, while Haiti host bottom side Nicaragua in Willemstad, raising hopes the beleaguered country could overcome the odds to go to the World Cup.

All six of the last group matches in the Concacaf qualifiers kick off at the same time on Nov 18.

REUTERS, AFP