'Crying long before the anthems': A week in the life of a 2026 World Cup player
Key takeaways
- Just over half of Curaçao's 158,000 population could fit into the Houston Stadium where they played their opener against Germany.
- When Curaçao traveled to the United States for the World Cup, few gave them a chance of getting a goal, let alone a result.
- Over the past week, across Curaçao's opening two group matches against Germany and Ecuador, their forward Gervane Kastaneer has taken ESPN inside their camp.
Why this matters: a sports story that could shift standings, legacies, or fan conversations.
Nervous Curaçao players sing their national anthem before the game. Curaçao Football Federation Tom Hamilton Jun 24, 2026, 03:18 AM ETClose• Joined ESPN in 2011 • Covered two Olympics, a pair of Rugby World Cups and two British & Irish Lions tours • Previously rugby editor, and became senior writer in 2018Follow on XMultiple Authors Email Print Open Extended Reactions Curaçao are a team of record breakers. They're the smallest nation to ever qualify for the World Cup, on both population and area. They have the tournament's oldest-ever head coach, and they began with the longest odds of winning it.
Just over half of Curaçao's 158,000 population could fit into the Houston Stadium where they played their opener against Germany. The small Dutch Caribbean island is formally part of the Netherlands, with 25 of their 26-man squad born there.
When Curaçao traveled to the United States for the World Cup, few gave them a chance of getting a goal, let alone a result. Drawn in Group E alongside Germany, the Ivory Coast and Ecuador, it was a brutal ask. But under the guidance of 78-year-old head coach Dick Advocaat, Curaçao had a plan to upset the world order.