PANAMA CITY.- Curacao on Tuesday became the smallest country to qualify a Worldin a frenetic and last day of the qualifying rounds of the CONCACAFin which Panama and Haiti They also sealed their pass to the biggest soccer event, which will be held in North America in 2026.
Besides, Jamaica and Surinam They obtained the two places at stake to compete in an intercontinental play-off that will be held in March.
Hundreds of people packed the bars and restaurants in Willemstad, the capital of Curaçao, erupted in joy after the classification.
“It makes me feel incredible, incredible because we are the smallest country that has ever reached the World Cup, we will show everyone that we are small, but we have a big heart,” a Curacao fan who came out to celebrate told AFP without identifying himself.
But while the classifieds celebrate, Costa Rica and Hondurasthe Central American teams with the most World Cup participations, mourn their elimination.
The Costa Rica coach, the Mexican Miguel Herreraannounced that he will not continue, while the coach of Honduras, the Colombian Reinaldo Ruedaburst into tears in the middle of a press conference after being left out of the World Cup.
The CONCACAF tie awarded three tickets to the group leaders and two places for the play-offs to the two best runners-up.
The competition filled the fans of more modest teams with enthusiasm, who saw in the absence of Mexico, the United States and Canada – classified because they were hosts – a historic opportunity to attend the World Cup.
Curaçao to its first World Cup
Curacao made history by drawing 0-0 against Jamaica in Kingston, to take first place in Group B of the CONCACAF qualifier.
The Curacao team arrived in Jamaica needing only a draw, against some “Reggae Boyz” who will postpone the dream of returning to a World Cup after 28 years, with the playoffs as the last opportunity.
However, they will face this play-off with a new coach, after the Englishman’s resignation Steve McClaren.
After the final whistle, the feat of those led by the Dutchman Dick Advocate It turned into shouts of joy, hugs and tears, an expected party for a team that represents an island with less than 200,000 inhabitants.
Curacao, accustomed to occupying the last positions in the region until just a decade ago, thus becomes the fifth Caribbean team to access a World Cup final phase, after Cuba, Haiti, Jamaica and Trinidad and Tobago.
Panama, scored and convinced
In Group A, Panama sealed its place by beating El Salvador 3-0 at the Rommel Fernández Stadium in the Panamanian capital.
This victory qualifies Panama for the second time in the World Cup, after Russia 2018, and sends Suriname, which was also playing for a direct ticket, to the play-offs.
“Now there is no one to stop us,” said the Panamanian coach, the Spanish-Danish Thomas Christiansen.
As of this last date, Suriname was tied with Panama in the table, but with a 3-goal advantage over the Canaleros, who had to wait for a blow from their rival, who lost 3-1 in Guatemala.
With Christiansen, a lover of touch football from the FC Barcelona school, where he was a player, the Canalero team finished the qualifier undefeated.
“If someone is late for work tomorrow we understand, he is a patriot who celebrated late,” the president of Panama, José Raúl Mulino, wrote on his X account.
Haiti returns 50 years later
Haiti returns to a World Cup half a century after its first participation, in Germany 1974. The Caribbean won their ticket after beating Nicaragua 2-0.
The Haitians, who played as locals in the “exile” of Curacao, due to the social and political crisis that their country is going through, finished as leaders of Group C, ahead of Honduras and Costa Rica.
In San José, Ticos and Hondurans tied 0-0, but it was not enough for them to access the play-offs.
Quarterfinalists in Brazil 2014, where they had their best historical performance in six World Cup appearances, the Ticos barely managed a win in the final round.
“I’m saddened,” said ‘Piojo’ Herrera.
