Dick Advocaat is leading the Curaçao national football team during their first-ever FIFA World Cup appearance in June 2026.
The achievement marks a historic milestone for the Caribbean island nation, which became the smallest country to ever qualify for the tournament. Advocaat's presence on the sidelines represents a dramatic turnaround following a period of leadership uncertainty earlier this year.
Advocaat, 78 [1], has had a turbulent path to the tournament. On Feb. 23, 2026 [3], reports indicated that the veteran coach had resigned from his position [3]. The resignation was attributed to health issues involving his daughter [3], with early reports suggesting he would not lead the team during the World Cup.
However, the coach returned to the squad before the tournament began. On May 28, 2026 [4], Advocaat said he was happy to be back at the helm of an excited Curaçao team and take them to the World Cup [2].
Despite the emotional journey, the team faced a steep learning curve in the group stages. Curaçao suffered a 7-1 [5] loss to Germany, a result that highlights the gap between the debutants and the global elite. Still, Advocaat emphasized the importance of the journey over the final score.
"Let's be proud we made it," Advocaat said [6].
The coach said that the qualification means a great deal to both him and the nation [2]. He has focused on honoring the effort of the players who secured the historic spot, despite the personal challenges he faced in February.
“"Let's be proud we made it."”
Curaçao's qualification breaks a long-standing barrier for microstates in international football. While the 7-1 loss to Germany underscores the competitive disparity, the presence of a high-profile veteran like Advocaat provides the team with tactical legitimacy and global visibility that can accelerate the growth of the sport on the island.
