CUW
FIFA WORLD CUP 2026 · GROUP E · POT 4

Curaçao
World Cup 26-man squad

Manager Dick Advocaat · Dutch head coach since 2024 (aged 78). A world-class career managing PSV, Rangers, Zenit and 8 national teams (Netherlands, South Korea at 2006 World Cup etc.). He engineered Curaçao's historic World Cup debut and will become the oldest head coach in World Cup history.
MD1 Jun 14 vs Germany MD2 Jun 20 vs Ecuador MD3 Jun 25 vs Ivory Coast
0th World Cup appearance · best finish: Debut ()
26
Squad size
27.5
Avg. age
26 / 26
Overseas-based
0 / 26
WC veterans / Debutants
TEAM STORY

Dick Advocaat's (Dutch, 78) Curaçao announced their final 26 on May 18. This is the country's first-ever World Cup — at 444 km² and 155,000 population, Curaçao becomes the first non-sovereign national team from the Americas at a World Cup. A 0-0 away draw with Jamaica in the final CONCACAF qualifier in November 2025 earned the single point they needed to seal an improbable qualification.

Backbone: captain Leandro Bacuna (Iğdır, 34) with brother Juninho (Volendam), 37-year-old MLS Cup-winning keeper Eloy Room (Miami FC), Tahith Chong (Sheffield United, ex-Manchester United), Armando Obispo (PSV). A Dutch/Caribbean blend with most players coming through Dutch academies.

Group E fixtures: June 14 vs Germany (Houston) → June 20 vs Ecuador (Kansas City) → June 25 vs Ivory Coast (Philadelphia). As debutants, any point is historic — a knockout berth would shake the world.

PREDICTED XI

LIKELY 4-3-3.

Advocaat's preferred 4-3-3. Leandro Bacuna captains and orchestrates midfield alongside brother Juninho. Front three: Chong (right), Kastaneer (No.9), Margaritha (left). Obispo and Gaari at CB, with veteran Eloy Room behind.

4-3-3 (predicted)
KEY PLAYERS

KEY PLAYERS.

The five players who set the tone in the group stage — by role and trait.

10
CM · MF
Leandro Bacuna
Iğdır · 34
72 caps · 16G WC debut
Captain & 34yo legend
CAPTAIN
7
CM · MF
Juninho Bacuna
Volendam (loan) · 28 · Eredivisie
49 caps · 15G WC debut
Captain's brother & 15-goal midfielder
ACE
1
GK · GK
Eloy Room
Miami FC · 37
71 caps · 0G WC debut
37yo MLS Cup-winning keeper
21
RW · FW
Tahith Chong
Sheffield United · 26
6 caps · 3G WC debut
Manchester United-developed winger
19
ST · FW
Gervane Kastaneer
Terengganu · 30
29 caps · 9G WC debut
Tall goalscoring striker
SQUAD

SQUAD 26.

GK GOALKEEPERS 3
DF DEFENDERS 8
MF MIDFIELDERS 7
FW FORWARDS 8
GROUP E

GROUP E.

GER
Germany
POT 1
CUW
Curaçao
POT 4
CIV
Ivory Coast
POT 3
ECU
Ecuador
POT 2
Sun, Jun 14
Germany vs Curaçao
Houston Stadium · Houston, TX
Their first-ever World Cup match vs Pot 1 Germany in Houston. Containing Musiala and Wirtz's creativity tests the Obispo/Gaari pairing — a historic World Cup debut begins.
View lineups →
MD1
Sat, Jun 20
Ecuador vs Curaçao
Kansas City Stadium · Kansas City, MO
Vs Ecuador in Kansas City. The Bacuna brothers' midfield control and Room's keeping target a counter-attacking point — any draw would be historic for the debutants.
View lineups →
MD2
Thu, Jun 25
Ivory Coast vs Curaçao
Philadelphia Stadium · Philadelphia, PA
Group decider vs the 2024 AFCON champions. Chong and Kastaneer must create chances against Kessié and Adingra.
View lineups →
MD3

Road to the final

Spoiler-free: the potential bracket route by final group position. No results shown.

Win Group E
  1. Round of 32 Jun 29 · Foxborough vs 3rd place (A/B/C/D/F)
  2. Round of 16 Jul 04 · Philadelphia vs Winner of Match 77
  3. Quarter-finals Jul 09 · Foxborough vs Winner of Match 90
  4. Semi-finals Jul 14 · Arlington vs Winner of Match 98
  5. Final Jul 19 · East Rutherford vs Winner of Match 102
Runners-up, Group E
  1. Round of 32 Jun 30 · Arlington vs Runners-up Group I
  2. Round of 16 Jul 05 · East Rutherford vs Winner of Match 76
  3. Quarter-finals Jul 11 · Miami Gardens vs Winner of Match 92
  4. Semi-finals Jul 15 · Atlanta vs Winner of Match 100
  5. Final Jul 19 · East Rutherford vs Winner of Match 101
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