JUST PARTICIPATION of Curaçao at the Football World Cup is a historic success, according to national coach Dick Advocaat. Despite the defeat against Germany (1-7), a beautiful piece of history remains. A few hours prior to the island’s first World Cup match on June 14, Curaçao was awarded the Guinness Book of World Records award in Houston, America, for being the smallest country ever, measured by population (156,115), to participate in a World Cup. It has thus dethroned Iceland (‘record holder’ since 2018).
But the performance of the ‘Blue Wave’ has led to several spin-off effects. This is how football has become more alive on the island. The achievement – from qualifying matches to qualifying for the World Cup – has also led to an unprecedented boost for the island’s international image and economy. Take marketing for example: hundreds of millions of football fans worldwide now regularly hear the name ‘Curaçao’. A form of advertising that would hardly be affordable for the island.
Curaçao proves that you don’t have to be big to make a huge impact on the world stage
The media attention surrounding the ‘Guinness World Record’ title immediately puts the island on the world map as a unique and ambitious destination. The World Cup fever is already causing a flow of travelers. Airlines have scaled up their capacity. Curaçaoans in the diaspora travel en masse to the island to experience the matches with their family and local catering, hotels and retailers are working overtime.
Large fan zones in Willemstad attract thousands of consumers, providing a direct capital injection into the local economy. In addition, the renewed international status opens doors to foreign investors and sports sponsorship, which could benefit the island’s infrastructure in the long term. Sports tourism is a fast-growing market.
The special achievement of the Blue Wave also provides a priceless sense of national pride, which makes the atmosphere on the island even more hospitable and attractive to visitors. Curaçao proves that you don’t have to be big to make a huge impact on the world stage. While tourism was already on the rise there, what the ‘Blue Wave’ has achieved has led to a greater flow of foreign visitors.
The fact that Curaçao can now compete in a group with world powers such as Germany, Ecuador and Ivory Coast is the culmination of a years-long process of professionalization. The selection, which relies on a strong mix of mainly experienced professionals from the Dutch Eredivisie and European top competitions, has transformed the island from a football outsider into a global crowd favorite. “It is unprecedented that we are here. The people of Curaçao will never forget this,” said the national coach.
As a good coach should, he made no excuses for the ignominious defeat against Germany and stated that such a big result is “actually completely normal” given the immense difference in quality.
Advocaat appeared to be combative and optimistic prior to the second group match against Ecuador. It turned out not to be unjustified afterwards, as his team kept the opponent in check on Saturday: 0-0.
