Curaรงao, Haiti, andโค Panama Qualify for 2026 world Cup; Suriname and Jamaica to Playoffs
MIAMI, FL – November 21, 2023 – Curaรงao has become the smallest nation by โpopulation to ever qualifyโค for a FIFAโ World Cup, securing a spot in the expanded 2026 tournament alongside Haitiโฃ and Panama. The qualification results finalize severalโ CONCACAF berths, while Jamaica and Suriname will compete in playoffs for additional chances to reach the finalsโฃ in the USA, Canada, โขand โMexico.
Curaรงao clinched โฃits first-ever World Cup appearance with a 0-0 draw against Jamaica, maintaining its undefeated record atop Group B of CONCACAF qualifying. The Caribbean nation, with โa populationโ of 156,115 as of January, surpasses Iceland (population of roughly 364,000 in 2018) as the smallest FIFA member to qualify for the tournament. Headโ coach Dick Advocaatโฃ was absent from the match due โคto family commitments in his home country.
Panama secured its second World Cup qualification, followingโค their debut in 2018, โขwith a decisive 3-0 victory over El Salvador. Haiti also earned a ticket, winning โฃGroup C with a 2-0 triumph over Nicaragua, overcoming favored opponents Honduras and Costa Rica. haiti’s only previous โคWorld Cup participation was in 1974, held in West Germany.
Jamaica and Suriname will advance to the โฃintercontinental playoffs in March,battling for the remaining World Cup spots. Suriname secured its playoff berth despite a 3-1 loss โฃto guatemala, benefiting from a late own goal that edged them past Honduras.
With these results, 42 of the 48 teams participating in the 2026 World Cup have now been confirmed.
Source: ntv.de, tsi/dpa/sid