Curacao gives officials, lecturers time off to watch World Cup match

The government of Curaçao has granted civil servants and teachers the afternoon off on Thursday so they can watch the island's World Cup match against Ivory Coast. The measure was announced on Wednesday ahead of one of the biggest sporting events in Curaçao's history. As a result, schools will close earlier than usual, requiring parents to collect their children ahead of the afternoon kick-off local time.

Curaçao's business community is also being encouraged to join the island's World Cup celebrations. The Curaçao Business Association has urged private companies to let employees finish work by 3 p.m. whenever feasible, giving them the opportunity to watch the national team's match against Ivory Coast, scheduled to start an hour later. The game starts at 10 p.m. in the Netherlands.

The extent to which private employers will follow the call to give staff time off remains unclear. Even so, football is expected to dominate life on Curaçao on Thursday afternoon as the island prepares for its World Cup clash with Ivory Coast. Many businesses and offices are expected to shut their doors early, although most hospitality venues and supermarkets will continue operating as normal.

World Cup fever has swept across Curaçao, with support for the national team growing stronger as the tournament has progressed. The excitement increased after the island celebrated its first-ever World Cup goal against Germany, despite a 7-1 loss, and then earned its first point with a goalless draw against Ecuador. Blue has become a common sight across the island, as fans show their backing for the national team, known as The Blue Wave.

Fans across Curaçao have been coming together at public viewing locations to watch the national team's World Cup matches. The Blue Wave has also dominated the island's media coverage, with newspapers, radio stations, television programmes, and social media platforms all heavily focused on the team's historic tournament campaign.