Suriname and Curaçao close in on historic first-ever FIFA World Cup qualification
Suriname and Curaçao took huge steps towards qualifying for their first FIFA World Cup on Thursday evening. Suriname defeated El Salvador 4-0 in Paramaribo, while Curaçao scored seven goals away to Bermuda in a 7-0 win. Both nations can seal qualification in the early hours of Wednesday morning.
Out of the two teams, Suriname has the easiest task in the final game. The Natio, as they are nicknamed, face the already eliminated Guatemala away. They need to at least equal Panama’s result against El Salvador and ensure that Panama does not improve their goal difference by three more than theirs. Goal difference is the number of goals scored minus the number of goals conceded.
Curaçao have a harder task. Dick Advocaat’s team face Jamaica, who have mostly players that play in the highest divisions of English football, away. Curaçao only needs to avoid defeat to confirm their first-ever World Cup spot after Jamaica failed to beat Trinidad and Tobago on Thursday.
Suriname is managed by former Ajax goalkeeper Stanley Menzo. The 62-year-old was already struggling to contain his emotions in the press conference after the game. “There’s so much going through me,” he said at a press conference. “My wife just called me in tears. That says it all. We’re one step away from that one very big dream.”
If either side fails to win their group, they have another chance via the play-offs, which take place in March. The World Cup, which is being held in the U.S., Canada, and Mexico, will be played in the summer of 2026.
The Netherlands will qualify for the tournament if they beat Poland on Friday evening. Meaning that a tournament game between the Netherlands and Suriname or Curacao could take place for the first time.
