WILLEMSTAD – Curaçao’s national Under-17 boys’ team has finished last in its group during the World Cup qualification tournament, ending its campaign with a 5-1 defeat against El Salvador in the final group match.
Curaçao managed only one point from three matches in Group F, placing the team at the bottom of the standings. The lone goal in the closing match was scored by Eljan Sparen, who emerged as Curaçao’s top scorer of the tournament with two goals overall.
Despite moments of promise, the team struggled to keep pace with stronger opposition throughout the group stage. The heavy loss to El Salvador sealed Curaçao’s elimination from the qualification process.
Meanwhile, Cuba, Honduras, Jamaica, the United States, Costa Rica, Haiti, Panama and Mexico have secured qualification for the FIFA U-17 World Cup, which will take place in November in Qatar.
For Curaçao’s young squad, the tournament marks a learning experience on the international stage, as the island continues to invest in youth football development and aims to strengthen its future competitiveness in regional and global competitions.