WILLEMSTAD – Curaçao’s national football team confidently secured their spot in the third round of the 2026 World Cup qualifiers on Friday, defeating Saint Lucia 4-0. Forward Gervane Kastaneer stole the show with a hat-trick. However, the road to the 2026 World Cup in the United States, Canada, and Mexico remains challenging. What does this victory mean for Curaçao, and what lies ahead for coach Dick Advocaat’s squad?
In a lively atmosphere at the Ergilio Hato Stadium, Curaçao dominated on all fronts. Kastaneer, who plays for Persib Bandung in Indonesia, opened the scoring in the 37th minute and added two more goals after halftime. Midfielder Juninho Bacuna, currently with Al-Wehda in Saudi Arabia, sealed the 4-0 final score. With this win, Curaçao now has nine points from three matches and is already assured of advancing to the third qualifying round.
What’s at stake on Tuesday?
On Tuesday evening at 9:00 PM, Curaçao will play their final group match of the second qualifying round on Aruba against Haiti. Both teams have already secured advancement, but the game remains crucial: the group winner will receive a more favorable draw in the next round. Curaçao only needs a draw to finish first in Group C, but a win will guarantee the top spot.
What does the rest of the qualification path look like?
The third round of World Cup qualifying kicks off in September 2025. Twelve teams will be divided into three groups of four. Each team will play three home and three away matches from September to November 2025. The three group winners will qualify directly for the 2026 World Cup.
The two best runners-up among the three groups will enter the intercontinental playoffs in March 2026. Six teams will compete in these playoffs: two from the CONCACAF region and four from other continents such as Asia, Africa, and Oceania. Two additional World Cup spots will be decided in this stage.
First up: the Gold Cup
Before preparing for the decisive World Cup qualifiers, Curaçao will compete in the Gold Cup, the premier national tournament for North and Central America. After the Gold Cup, the team will focus on the final qualification rounds.
This victory marks a major milestone for Curaçao, but the journey toward their first-ever World Cup appearance continues with important challenges ahead.
