Tiny Curacao is making huge history

There won't be millions of people from Curacao cheering on their national team in the World Cup, because Curacao doesn't have millions of people.

Not even close.

Before the tournament even begins, Curacao has already crafted a story like none other in World Cup history. A tiny island country — autonomous territory, if you prefer — of about 156,000 residents in the Caribbean is now the smallest, both in terms of population and land mass, to make it to soccer's biggest stage. And if that wasn't enough, it's doing so under a coach in Dick Advocaat who, at 78, is about to become the oldest the tournament has ever seen.

They know what the world is probably thinking: Their country is too small, their coach is too old, they don't have a chance.

They heard all that through the qualifying process as well — and here they are.

"We have made history," Curacao defender Sherel Floranus said. "We are writing our own history, for this island."

The way they see it, they have already won.

Curacao rolled through qualifying, going 4-0-0 against Haiti, Saint Lucia, Aruba and Barbados in its opening round, then going 3-0-3 against Jamaica, Bermuda and Trinidad and Tobago in the next round to grab its spot — one of three that were available for teams from North America, Central America and the Caribbean.

Just how small is Curacao? Its first finals match on June 14 is against Germany in Houston — a city with 15 times as many people as the island. The stadium in Houston could hold about one-half of Curacao's entire population.

It has been a perfect storm to get there. First, the three host nations for this World Cup — the US, Mexico and Canada — were exempt from qualifying and were already in the tournament field. And this inaugural edition of an expanded 48-team tournament made it inevitable that there would be some surprise teams getting to the World Cup.

With odds of +250,000 against on some sportsbooks, Curacao was the longest of long shots in the field. And on the island, it does understand the reality of what that means.

"We know there is a big chance that we don't win the World Cup, but that we (made it) there ... for Curacao, a very, very, very good moment," said Remko Bicentini, a former pro player and Curacao's former national team head coach. "We are proud of that.

"It is a party for the whole of Curacao. It's a big level and all the players ... we worked years, for years, for years, very hard to get where we now are."

Curacao's sports history is sometimes masked by its Dutch ties.

The island was part of the Netherlands Antilles until October 2010, when it became a more autonomous "constituent country" of the Netherlands. The Dutch monarchy still reigns, the citizens remain Dutch nationals and the Netherlands government oversees defense and foreign affairs. And this week, Curacao's World Cup preparations are happening in the Netherlands — a nine-hour direct flight away, but a place where the team was greeted with "welcome home" signage.

The sense is clearly that the results at the tournament won't mean much. Winning a match would be magical. Tying one would be cause for celebration. Just being there, for those from Curacao, is a victory in itself.

"I always saw other countries play the World Cup," said Michael Stokkel, a policeman. "I was a fan of Brazil, but now I will be a fan of my own country. It's an incredible feeling."

He's going to the World Cup, but by himself. It's just too expensive to bring others, he said.

It's not unheard of for athletes from Curacao to compete on the international stage. The rare part here is that they're doing it actually as "Curacao". There have been unsuccessful attempts for the nation to be recognized as its own Olympic team; athletes compete in the Summer Games either for the Netherlands or as independent athletes. At the World Baseball Classic earlier this year, players played for the Netherlands.

Ozzie Albies of the Atlanta Braves, a native of Willemstad — the island's capital and biggest city — said his nation getting to the World Cup is "history for the guys and the accomplishment is super special for Curacao."

"Soccer has always been a sport we play but never made it to the World Cup," said Albies, one of three Curacao natives currently on a Major League Baseball roster. "So, to be able to do it is very, very, very special."

The Dutch are a World Cup contender with their own national team. Curacao, which will have its base camp at Florida Atlantic University in Boca Raton, Florida, when it shifts its full operation to the US in the coming days, is simply savoring its moment.

"I think it's been amazing for the whole island," said Tahith Chong, one of the national team's top players. "Just seeing how the island has lived with it and just knowing, I think that a lot of people don't know about Curacao. It loves soccer and it's quite big here. So, to be present this year at the World Cup is obviously something amazing for the island."